Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: sovereignty

consternation about your location — January 29, 2025

consternation about your location

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We played musical churches.  Cornerstone Church was moving out of their leased facility and our church was moving into it.  Koreen didn’t know that her church, Cornerstone Church, was on the move.  So, the first Sunday that we occupied that space, she showed up for the service as usual. 

Same building, same chair – different congregation.  She knew something was sorta different, but she enjoyed herself anyway.  She figured God brought her to us for a reason.  From that day on she became a beloved part of our church family. 

So, that makes me wonder, “Does it matter where a person is at any point in time?  Is it important to God that I am here rather than there?” 

The Scripture says yes!  God’s sovereign working includes the “where” of a nation (Acts 17:26) and even a person. Solomon wrote, “A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps” – Proverbs 16:9.

So, I get it!  God is sovereignly at work in our lives – steering us to the right places, in order to shape and conform us to the image of HIs Son.

OK but what if I am not happy with where I am at the moment?  The single girl is frustrated because she can’t meet a guy in her small town.  The engineer knows he could earn more elsewhere, but he can’t get the first interview.  With so many small children she would like to be closer to grandparents, but it would be too difficult to make a move.

Well, the apostle Paul was not exactly thrilled with his location either.  He found himself in the belly of a dark, disgusting Roman prison cell.  He was a preacher who could not get out and preach. 

But He understood the mysterious and wonderful workings of God and therefore looked for the sovereign hand of God in His circumstances.

He wrote, “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel……and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly” – Philippians 1:12 & 14.

Paul found that because of his incarceration, many others stepped up and began to preach in his stead.  The Gospel preachers multiplied.  Paul learned that he was doing a greater service to God by being in jail than by being out.

– Do you have consternation about your location?  Ask God what He might be trying to teach you through your circumstances?

As a prisoner Paul was expected to provide food and clothing for himself, but he had no way to earn his keep.  Yet, he could say, “I have learned to be content in any circumstance” – Philippians 4:11.

There in prison God was cultivating in Paul the quality of contentedness.  He may be doing the same for you through your circumstances.

– Consternation about your location? Ask God, what character qualities He is developing in you through your circumstances.

In prison, Paul was chained to a Roman guard.  Guess who began to hear the Gospel?  Paul wrote, “The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ” – Philippians 1:13.

He used his difficult circumstances to share his faith with those who shackled him. 

– Consternation about your location? Say to the Lord, “OK God, you plopped me in this job, or this neighborhood.  I assume there is someone here that you want me to reach.  Who is it?” 

God has a purpose in every place we find ourselves.  So, this is what I would suggest.  Instead of fighting your location and your circumstances and complaining about your job, or your home, or the town in which you live or the country of which you are a citizen –  

Instead of all that – Look for His purpose in your place.

A PRAYER: Lord, we need a lot of help with this.  Please have your way!

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you

Scripture references are from the NETBible ®

the awkward audition — January 29, 2024

the awkward audition

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I was about to graduate from college. I had a wife, two children, two clunky cars and lofty career expectations – but no job prospects. 

Then a church finally called! They needed an Associate, and they were interested in me. Fantastic! Over the phone, we set a date to visit and then planned our trek to Dorseyville, PA. It would be our formal audition. The pastor followed up with a letter to verify the details.

We arrived at the church building, but there was no welcoming committee.  I found the pastor in his office and introduced myself.  His smile vanished.

This did not instill me with confidence.   He sheepishly introduced himself, and then took my family to the parsonage where we would stay for the weekend.  He introduced us to his wife, and her smile vanished.

Wow!  Was it my breath?

They told us then, that we had arrived a day early and they were not prepared for us.  He had changed the arrival date in his follow-up letter to me, which I probably should have read. 

We felt like a great imposition – which we actually were.  It was a terrible start to the weekend, and yet it went downhill from there.

As I said, we were lodging at the elderly pastor’s home.  That weekend, our 18-month-old son discovered the word “no”!  “K.C we need to change your diaper” – “No!”  “Time for bed.” “No!” “Son, you need to leave all those fragile knick-knacks alone.”  “No!” 

He must have said it a thousand times.  The pastor was alarmed by the rebel in his home, and I was astonished by this new behavior and not quite sure what to do.

At breakfast the kids were served, “All Bran.”  Needless to say, how that went. 

In the evening, we joined them for family devotions.   The pastor read from, “The Upper Room” while my four-year old daughter sat on his wife’s lap tugging at the straggly hairs on the lady’s chin. 

Well, we made it back home, and eventually received a letter saying, “Sorry, we chose someone else.”  And I said to myself, “Duh!” 

I really wanted, even needed that job.  My self-esteem and my bank account were both running on empty even before our PA experience.  But I knew the Bible well enough to know that God is sovereign, that He controls all things and that He allowed the rejection because He was looking out for me and my family.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:11, “In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.”  NETBible ®  There are several things to note here:

– First: We belong to God.  He has claimed us.  Hmm.  I value what I possess.  I have a great guitar and I spare no expense in keeping that thing in tip top shape.  God is even more meticulous and considerate about His precious possessions.  He wants only our best. 

– Second: He has a plan for us.  “We were predestined according to the purpose of His will.”  His plan is a good plan.  It is comprehensive and includes everyone and everything that might touch or affect us.

Third: He brings that plan to pass.   He is the Lord of the universe, Master of all things and people.  He makes sure that we experience His good and perfect plan. 

The Lord eventually opened a door to a ministry in Texas.  We were blessed to serve at a church where we could feel at ease – where our children could be children – and where we would be accepted and even cherished just as we were.

It was a very healthy place for us and our kids grew up loving Jesus and His church. 

This experience reminded me that sometimes things just don’t go my way, but as long as they’re going God’s way – it will be alright. 

A Prayer: Lord thank you for the frequent and sometimes uncomfortable reminders that You are sovereign.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  

herded — September 18, 2019

herded

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james ray johnson

The hymn says, “He leadeth me,” but does He?  Does God really reach down from heaven and direct me as I make my way through life?

If so how?   Does He navigate a metaphysical map app and speak to us in a Siri voice?   That might be creepy?

And suppose He does lead us – do I necessarily want to go where He is leading?  

Consider Isaiah 48:17, “This is what the Lord, your Protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go.”   NET Bible®.

That answers 2 out of 3 of my questions.  Yes, God does guide us.  He “leads us in the way in which we should go.”  And yes, we probably want to follow His lead because He “teaches us to succeed.”   Who wouldn’t want that?  Only the “how” question remains to be answered.

Sure, the Word of God is a great help.  He gives us such wonderful specific direction there about life and marriage and money and parenting and so on.  But the verse seems to be talking about God’s personal intervention.

Perhaps Jake could help?  Jake was a dog – a heeler to be exact.  He was a solid, sturdy, compact dog that was bred to herd sheep and cattle. 

Heelers have coats that are speckled with either blue or a red flecks.  We preferred Jake who was a Blue Heeler.  He complemented my eyes.

Jake had once been one of several working dogs on a cattle ranch in New Mexico.  For some reason the other dogs decided they didn’t like Jake anymore.  They refused to work with him.  (You know how things can be in the work place.)  

Anyway, my son happened along as the rancher was about to give the dog the pink slip (which clashed with his blue specks).  He rescued Jake and took him to his home in the Rockies.  But Jake eventually returned the favor.  He courageously chased a bear from the front porch.

My son did some transitioning, so Jake eventually wound up moving in with us in Texas.  

I understand that the heeler breed originated in Australia. He is part Collie and part Dingo.  Or maybe it was part dingy, because that he was.

He once ran into a brick wall head first which didn’t help his mental stability. 

And he had an obnoxious habit of howling through the night unless he was in bed with you. His howl was an ear piercing elongated, “oooooo” – like a police siren except out of tune.   Maybe that’s why the other heelers shunned him.  A working dog needs his sleep. 

So, what does all this have to do with God?  Keep reading!

My wife and I would occasionally take Jake for a walk.  This was always a memorable experience.   We let him wander without a leash, but he always stayed very near.  In fact, he would pace to and fro, back and forth all around us.  We were being herded – like a couple of cows. 

We walked down the center of our quiet street but if we moved close to the curb (where the wolves lurk) he would cut us off and force us to redirect.  I don’t how many times I almost tripped over that dog.   He would work the right and then the left, but always kept us centered.

If we were to stop and greet a neighbor, he would bump our heels to get us moving again.  Another skill he learned in the livestock business.  Hence the name “heeler.”

I sometimes wondered if he was leading us to the tattoo parlor to be branded!   

I suspect that God guides us much as Jake did.

You didn’t get that job for which you applied. Maybe God blocked the path because it was a diversion from his ultimate best for you. 

You met your fiancé at church even though she lives 2 hours away and you intended to skip church that day.  Could it be that God bumped your heel to get you out of bed, to be there with her in the same place at the same time?   

You and your business partner eventually went your separate ways.  Three years later he was indicted for fraud.  Could it be that God allowed that rift to fester in order to protect you? 

Yes God “leads us in the way in which we should go.”   His sovereign guidance is mysterious, wise and wonderful and oh so effective as He watches over and directs us.  For this I am grateful.

Co-Mow — February 14, 2019

Co-Mow

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An enigma – that’s what it is!  On one hand the Scripture tells me that the Lord will provide for me (Matt. 6:33) while on the other hand it tells me if I don’t work, I should not be allowed to eat. (2 Thess. 3:10)   So why does a great big all-powerful God need us to participate in His program?

My dad answered that question when I was too young to understand.  It was the late fifties and I was nearly 5 years old.  My dad was clipping the lawn with an outdated reel mower on a sultry summer day.  I watched as he labored to force that manually powered mechanical beast through the thick green. 

He left the mower for the house to get a drink.  Aha, a chance to make him proud.  I reached high above my head and grabbed the worn T-handle and pushed.  It wouldn’t budge – not an inch.  No leverage – tiny muscles!  I huffed and puffed while the lawn laughed. 

That’s when a couple of massive hands came from behind me and outflanked mine on the handle.  Dad nudged the mower and we moved and then picked up speed.  Soon the reel was happily tossing its clippings in my little face.

Dad didn’t need my help, but I sure needed his.  We finished the lawn in record time. (It took at least twice as long to get it done.)   The sweet smell of the new mown grass was almost as sweet as the experience of having conquered it with my dad. 

And this is where I begin to understand my Heavenly Father.  My dad really didn’t need my help.  In fact, I seriously complicated the task.  He had to make room for me.  He had to take small steps and wait for me when I needed to stop to get a fresh grip. He had to step over and around me on the corners.    

But why?  I brought zero to the table toward the accomplishment of that task and I really wasn’t old enough to treat it as a training experience.  So why did dad allow me or even want me to participate?  

The relationship – just the relationship!  It was an opportunity for him to be with me and me with him – to share the experience together.

I am fairly sure that our Heavenly Father treats His ponderous work in the same way.   Though He does not need us, He enjoys us and the responsibilities He gives us are designed to draw us near.   

The Lord is my provider.  He can take care of me whether I work another day or not.  But as I work to put bread on the table, I am frequently reminded of how much I need Him.   I depend on Him for the opportunity to work and the wisdom, strength and health needed to get the job done.  Such things fuel my prayers.  He also allows me to enjoy what He enjoys when a task is completed.  Working with Him draws me nearer to Him and He loves it when that happens.

And yes, it certainly is more trouble and takes Him longer to accomplish what He could and would do on His own, but He loves us and wants to enjoy the experience with us.     

Thank you Father for making room for me at the T-handle of life, but please, never let me forget that it is only through and because of You that anything is ever really accomplished.

Listen to the song below and remember how wonderful He really is!

Oh God Our Help in Ages past. Vocals: Jim Johnson