Farewell Letters© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
—-Psalms 30:5b (RKJV).
He was at the end of his rope. His health was failing. His doctors urged him to rest in his bed. He was overextended in all of his commitments. He was truly at the bottom of the barrel.
His small business had turned into a huge success. He had started a little dry good store in a small mining town in Wyoming that had grown like a grassfire across America.
But his life, his physical health had deteriorated down to almost nothing. On top of this he had the shingles and was fighting to keep going. Mentally, emotionally and physically he had become very fragile and weak.
Finally in his depressed and confined condition he came to the conclusion that his death was imminent. He became so convinced one day that he would not live through the night that he actually sat down by his bed and began to write farewell letters to his wife, family and friends. What a state of mind! Thinking he would never see another sunrise.
I can’t imagine what a moment would be like in that kind of despair and consternation. It must have been totally horrific and miserable for this businessman and his family. However, behind all this backdrop of gloom and despair the sun arose the next morning and the man was still alive.
In a distance he heard a faint sound of a little band of Christians singing a song. He dragged himself out of bed. He got dressed and eased down the street from his home so he could hear the singing better. The closer he walked toward the little band of Christians he heard those touching and tender words clearly. Louder and louder their voices sang out:
God will take care of you,
Through every day,
O’er all the way
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
An exciting and unforgettable warm feeling came upon this businessman. He felt the overwhelming presence of God so strongly in his life that from that day forward he said, “I was never the same again.” The experience changed his whole life. His 1,600 dry good stores across America were his earthly riches, but now he had found his eternal riches—he had experienced God as never before.
This was the beginning of J.C. Penney’s healing. And yes, he was never the same again.
And yes, God will take care of you, too.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
DADDY, WILL YOU CARRY ME IN? (C) 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31
Remember after those long trips back to your home and you were half asleep? Remember yourself slumped down in that back seat of the old family car; and you begged your dad, big brother or sister to carry you into the house? Can you recall how tired and weary you were? You were completely ‘played out’! You had no more steam.
Lifeless and miserable—filled with lack-less energy, and a limp body.
I am convinced that our spirits go through this same dead, energy-less, total exhaustion. We reach a point where we need to be refilled, rekindled and reignited with God and with ourselves. Your spirit is just as real as your body. The you within you needs a new tank of gas. Over time you become spiritless. Powerless. Somber in your spirit. Dull.
Your lackluster, tired, sleepy and drab spirit demands renewal. You must have someone stronger than you to ‘carry your spirit into the house’. Remember how those big arms of your dad would brace your back, and reach underneath your legs as he lifted you up. Your spirit needs those big arms underneath your spirit to lift you up, too.
God is your loving Father. He can lift up your spirit out of the backseat of life. He is strong. He is Almighty. He is capable of carrying you, carrying your tired, wan, deadened spirit into the house. He wants to lift you up. The Christ sent the One to take his place to lift you up—the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, his Spirit. He is now here…with you and ready to carry your spirit.
His role is Comforter. He wants to carry you when you can’t carry yourself. He wants to under-gird you. Support you. Enliven you. Enrich your spirit. He wants to be the wings under your exhausted spirit. He wants to give you a ‘shot’, an injection of new inspiring energy, stamina and help.
Not my might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6b (RKJV).
Just ask Him, today, “Daddy, will your carry me in?”
And He will.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
BE HAPPY, I’M HERE, DON’T WORRY© 2008
By Ronnie Johnson
The ship was being tossed around like baby’s toy in a big bath tub. Those violent winds came up out of nowhere. The disciples on board had no place to run. One moment they were on a mountainside experiencing the wonder and magic of Jesus feeding five thousand a fish dinner. The next moment they find themselves in a ship with a threatening storm about to kill them. But that’s the way life is, isn’t it? Up one day, up one moment and down the next.
The neat thing about this story to me is that God is in control. No matter how fierce the sudden storm slams into this ship, God is still at the helm of our adversity and overwhelming dilemmas. Can you hear that howling wind and loud boisterous thunder clapping in their ears? Wow! Strong, scary storms can sound like a freight train when they come upon us so unexpectedly. And then they are gone with devastation almost always left behind…and victims, too.
But listen to the Master. Listen to his soothing words, his tranquil voice of hope and reassurance.
Be happy, I’m here, don’t worry.
So today midst your strong, scary storm take a deep breath and be comforted, be confident—God is in control. He always has been, He is now, and He always will be…. in total control. Let Him guide you over the rough stormy seas of life. And if you will get real still you, too, will hear his compassionate and caring voice:
Be happy, I’m here, don’t worry.
Down the road ...
Ronnie Johnson
