Like you, we are glory seekers. We have wonderfully, “Tasted and seen, the Lord is good!” The greatest prize is in the pursuit of the fame, splendor and radiant beauty of our Sovereign! We came to Yeshua in the days of the Jesus... Read More...
Riverfront Property in Audio
I am so grateful and pleased to share freely the whole audio book of Riverfront Property: Connecting At The River Of Life! I’m confident you will receive a delicious drink! As you find your thirst quenched please recall those you know who would also love a drink, and pass the cup! Read More...
A Miracle Story
Thursday July 30, 1987, started out as just another hot summer day in Ellensburg, Washington, a town of about fifteen thousand souls in a picturesque valley a hundred miles east of Seattle... Read More...
Sometimes we can rattle off a Scripture verse yet be unaware of its context. This morning in Men’s group this phenomena manifest. We were looking at the wonderful verse, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor 5:17
The lesser known, preceding verse, says, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer” (2 Cor 5:16). The truth of our new creation is worthy of hours of reflection. But this verse is loaded with practicality and possibilities.
I am intrigued with the reality that we may look beyond the envelope and find the letter within. If you are at all like me you greet someone and think to yourself, “She has a funny accent.” “He’s tall.” “She slouches when she sits.” “He keeps repeating that word.”
I work intentionally to look deeper than the face and external features, asking the Holy Spirit for in-sight to discover the gold within. God has given us the spiritual ability to look deep. It is an ability that all of us can exercise and perfect, but it takes intentionality.
Our Lord Jesus knew what was in a person. He was able to look deep. He saw Peter perfected before he ever got close. He saw the treasure in the heart of the woman at the well. He sees the gold in his people even when it is hidden in failed flesh. Like our Lord Jesus we should look for the new creation in others. When we look deep we find treasures, even if they are surrounded by scrambled thinking, vulgar words and a stinky attitude.
I love to picture Jesus walking on water, embracing the little children and touching the leper, yet there is so much more of my Lord Jesus I would like to see! Three disciples realized Jesus’ fluorescent glory on a mountain top.
John in revelation saw Jesus in another light, or Jesus in His true shining!
His eyes were like blazing fire.
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,
and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
In his right hand he held seven stars,
and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Rev 1:14-16
We no long recognize Jesus according to the flesh. We also should no long recognize our fellow saints according to the flesh. We know there is a great glory, sometimes hidden, in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters. Wouldn’t you like to see more!
Our Father has given us the equipment to see by his Spirit deeper into the lives of others, to perceive the treasures within. I encourage you to extend the focus of your eyes beyond the surface and discover the wonders of the new creation in your fellow Saints!
Would you like to give a review of Steve’s new book, Compounds of Encouragement? If so, send us a note and you will receive a free PDF or audio copy of the book. Specify which you prefer. Some comments may be included in the book. Thanks!
God compressed himself into a space on the mercy seat above the ark of the Covenant. In the greatest “communication” God compressed Himself, voiced himself, into human flesh, showing up as man. What powerful mystery! Even the Apostle Paul declared the Flesh-God, a profound mystery.
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory. 1 Tim 3:16
Our Mystery is substantial, not ethereal! Our auditory, visual, and tactile senses discern the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The shepherds and later the wisemen witness The Mystery. Later still the followers of The Word testified to it.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 1 John 1:1-2
I prefer calling Christmas “Incarnation Day.” God became incarnate among us wearing human flesh to save creatures made of flesh. “Incarn,” means “in flesh.” All of us are born with flesh, but how exceptionally unusual for God to show up wearing it!
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil. Heb 2:14
The story of Christmas is a rescue mission, but the hero is not a local. He is from out-of-town. Jesus comes down from highest heaven to redeem us! Heaven’s purposeful war strategy utilized a virgin, a baby, a cross and tomb, and a few other items like hosts of angels. These weapons decimate the judgments of death and hell and all their powers!
One of the greatest powers Jesus conquers is the spirit of the antichrist! The antichrist is “anti-flesh.” Note how the Apostle John warns us;
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 2 John 7
Who is the antichrist?
Most people think of the antichrist as a man who is a really bad dude. “We’ll have to watch out for him when he shows up.” The far greater danger is “the spirit of antichrist,” which is already in the world. If we cannot discern and overcome that spirit we will be cannon fodder for individuals who operate as antichrists. Many Christians have been decimated by the subtleties of the spirit of antichrist. The Apostle John warned us:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world. 1 John 4: 1-3
Have you noticed how stealthily, how subtly, this satanic spirit has operated? Each Christmas the radio plays more “Santa and sleigh-bells” and less “Christ-has-appeared-among-us.” I noticed in a large box store that out of hundreds of “Christmas” cards only two had a Christ-message. The message of incarnation, God taking on flesh, has been watered down to dissolve its potency. Nativity has been replaced by naivety.
The anti-Christ is the diabolical Grinch who steals, “Today in Bethlehem is born for you a Savior.”
What is antichrist’s malicious, seductive, intent?
Satan doesn’t want earthlings to know Jesus walked among them in flesh.
Antichrist reduces Jesus to a vague, warm, but powerless, spiritual feeling.
He clouds the realization that Jesus is physical, concrete and touchable.
He obscures Jesus physical incarnation and His ultimate tangible, sizzling, dazzling return.
He muddles the reality that Jesus raises us physically at the resurrection.
Antichrist slanders Jesus, saying:
“Jesus only appeared to have flesh.”
“Jesus can’t relate to you because he doesn’t understand your fleshly struggles.”
“Jesus is powerless to help you in your day-to-day fleshly world.”
“Don’t expect Jesus to do anything world-changing. He will only grant you an indistinct ‘spiritual’ comfort.”
“Don’t expect to live a life of overcoming sin because nobody who has flesh can overcome.”
“Don’t expect much from Jesus because there is not much to Him. He’s vague and insubstantial.”
The spirit of the anti-Christ is fine with us “spiritualizing” everything. This deceiving spirit is fine with otherworldly ideas of our Jesus, but not striking, bold moments of awareness of His tangible presence.
YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEDUCED BY ANTICHRIST IF:
You divide the world into “spiritual” and “material.”
You have an abstract, theoretical, or hyper-spiritual image of Christ.
You are more interested in going to heaven than seeing heaven physically transform earth.
Your hope is in dying and going to heaven rather than the resurrection of the dead.
You settle for Jesus healing the “spiritually” blind and deaf, but don’t expect Jesus to heal the blind and deaf physically.
You don’t expect to see tangible answers to your prayers.
PROCLAMATIONS FOR CRUSHING THE ANTICHRIST SPIRIT
Sometimes we must shake ourselves and speak out loud the reality of our substantial Savior. We can take the truths of Incarnation Day and crush the nay-saying antichrist! Speak out truths like these:
I am a Christian materialist!
There is no division between spiritual and physical.
Jesus pre-existed eternally and “incarnated” as a baby for me.
Jesus solidly, physically lives for me.
My High Priest sympathizes with me because He became like me.
He knows the pain of my stubbed toe, and personal rejection.
He knows what it is to be exhausted and feel hunger.
He knows the pleasures of family and friends.
Jesus touches me in tangible ways, not just vague mystical ways.
When I pray I expect my Lord to respond with tangible answers.
He delivers and heals my flesh.
My Lord Jesus Christ is solid!
Jesus was born in the flesh
Lived among us in the flesh
Ministered to mortals wearing flesh
Died in flesh
Rose in flesh
Ascended in flesh
He reigns in Heaven in flesh. [What does that tell us about heaven?]
He is returning in flesh, to our material world.
The antichrist was overcome at the cross. I will no-longer allow the antichrist to slink around. I uncover and expose Him! I certify the physical victory!
My Lord Jesus has crushed the world of denial of the antichrist by coming in the flesh to save all flesh!
Steven C Johnson
LandingStripEnterprises.Com
To further fortify yourself in God’s wonderful plan to dwell in flesh and bless His creatures made in flesh look to the Scriptures below. They will be bullets for your gun that you may decimate the spirit of the antichrist.
INCARNATION BULLETS FOR YOUR GUN
Scriptures are bullets for our spiritual guns. Take the following incarnation passages to pow, bang and rat-a-tat-tat against the power of the antichrist. Abide in our dearest Lord Jesus and let His word abide in you. It is open season on Giants. Happy hunting!
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Mic 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Rom 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.
Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law
Phil 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross!
Col 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginningand the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
2 Cor 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Heb 1:6 And again,when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
Many know that God is offendable. But is God pleasable? The answer is yes!
LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE!
A parent who loves their baby can be pleased when it simply coos and squeaks, when it grabs a toy, rolls over, sits up, or takes a first step. Many parents are easy to please. It is a slander to think that God is hard to please.
Before our son was born I had a troubling question; “Will I love him?” I had never met him. Would I find him lovable, have the capacity to love or come up short? At his appearing the doubts vaporized. I loved Brian immediately – before he hit a home run, did well in school, took out the garbage or milked the goats. He was mine. He was a wonder. And he was easy to love. My pleasure with him only increases as I behold his tiny and great accomplishments.
Every sincere Saint hopes to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” The conscientious Christian, focused on their failings and flaws, may forget that Father God is pleasable. They wonder if their flaws will disqualify them from hearing the “Well done.”
The sober truth of Scripture is that God is a righteous judge. Each of us will stand to give account of our lives for our thoughts and actions. Our Lord even weighs our motives. Each of us should tremble over the holiness and justice of God. That weighty truth has a counter balance. It is the mercy of Christ at the atonement seat, and the pleasability of God. God’s grace in Jesus our Savior covers the sins of the humble believer, giving the Father the ability to look for the smallest excuse to be pleased and proud.
We have a schnauzer named Smitty. I’m teaching him to sit, stay, lay down, get up, get down, fetch and give, jump and roll over. When he tries to respond to my commands I affirm him. I do it often. He’s a smart dog and catches on. Perhaps he could use a better master. My point is that I choose to be pleased with the smallest effort, and I affirm with pats, vocalizations and treats. I pray I may be as eager to please God as Smitty is to please me.
What I know is that God is better at affirming me than I am with my dog. Could He be affirming us more than we know? We know there is an ultimate blessing of “Well done.” But don’t you think there is a moment by moment “Well done” going on in the Spirit when we are making the smallest obediences and eagerly seeking to please Him? Perhaps if we were more sensitive we would hear our Lord’s affirmations and at-a-boy or girls frequently. Perhaps our worries, “Am I doing this right? Am I a flunky?” prevent us from hearing His loving approval.
When one of our tiny children learned to tumble, twirl in dance, bake their first muffin, or squeak well in the band, approximating the right note, we are pleased and say, “Well done!” Our Lord Jesus said, “If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children [in this case a praise or affirmation] how much more will your Father…”
Do you know you can find dozens of verses about the pleasability of our loving Father? Reflect on these:
OUR WORDS AND THOUGHTS CAN PLEASE GOD
Ps 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ps 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. PRAISE CAN PLEASE HIM
Ps 69:30-31 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
OUR FATHER IS PLEASED WHEN WE KEEP HIS WORD
Prov 22:17-18 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
JUSTICE, MERCY AND HUMILITY PLEASE GOD
Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
PRESENTING OUR LIVES IN WORSHIP PLEASES GOD
Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.
RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY PLEASE THE FATHER
Rom 14:16-18 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
GIVING MATERIAL GIFTS CAN PLEASE THE LORD
Phil 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
CARRING FOR YOUR FAMILY PLEASES THE LORD
1 Tim 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
A FAITHFUL WALK WITH GOD IS PLEASING
Heb 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
SHARING WITH OTHERS PLEASES GOD
Heb 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD
Paul said in Ephesians 5:10 “… find out what pleases the Lord.” Once we discover this we can get active and do our best to create pleasure in the heart of our Heavenly Papa. What if we discover pleasing God is easier than we thought?
HAVE A DETERMINATION TO PLEASE GOD
1 Thess 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
John 5:30 for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
1 Thess 2:4 We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
PRAYERS THAT WE MAY PLEASE GOD
Heb 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Col 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God
In the wonderful and terrible days in which we live, learn what pleases the Lord, and resolve to create pleasure in your Father’s heart!
So sad and happy to announce Mom’s promotion. Leona Jane Peck Johnson was promoted 11/9/22 much to the delight of heaven, a waiting Savior, friends and family!
Words will never do. First rate human being, wife, mom to three, grand to four, and great-grand to seven – with one on the way.
Generous, loving, affirming, good humored, confident, humble, thoughtful – and a few dozen other frail words describe a woman of stellar quality. Dad and Mom produced one of the worlds all-time best love stories, plus kids, grands and greats who had no doubt they were loved. Her smile, congeniality and faith in the goodness of God will be welcomed by heaven’s residents.
Her many memories and stories will be missed. We look forward to The Day of Reunion in Christ!
Engagement announcement
Mom with Steve, Sue and Scott
Leona and Lloyd, one of the world’s great love stories
Lee with Nathan, one of the seven great grand kids
This movie will mess with you digestion but it is important to see. Our Lord Jesus said, “There is nothing hidden which will not be made know. There is nothing secret which will not be revealed.”
Sometimes it is mandatory to see things which cause revulsion. If you are not watching for lions you can never go on a lion hunt. “Watch and pray.”
Watch this as a believing Christian who is in the war to win! Declare over evil, “No! That’s not the Kingdom of God!” Then pray, “Thy glorious Kingdom come on our planet as it prevails in the highest heaven!”
I urge you to pass this on! Tomorrow may not offer another opportunity.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This movie is for free until Oct 31st.
They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. Jer 6:14
LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE
If your doctor found you had a serious, threatening health condition would you want him to tell you? It takes courage to face square on challenging news. Many would rather not know, even refuse to know. God wants you to face issues – and overcome.
Today we are ripping off a band-aid of denial which is covering deeper, infected wounds. We are taking off the blindfold which makes us comfortable by preventing us from seeing the signs of the times. I am re-presenting grave concerns regarding famine coming to the world and to our neighborhoods.
I am asking you to endure the ripping pain, and be bold and courageous, and watch this link which shares alarming information regarding our food infrastructure, primarily from farmers’ perspectives.
It will take courage to watch it. It will take resolve to follow the counsel to prepare seeds and gardens this winter for the coming growing season. In a temporal way this is life and death stuff.
After you watch it I want to remind you that God has called you not to be a coward or survivor but to be a triumphant deliverer for your family and neighbors. This is your Esther moment. This is the reason you were born – not to live a comfortable life, but to minister supernatural, regenerative life to others.
We are preparing for something far more monumental than, famine or war, or pestilance. We are preparing for something Colossally, Infinitely Grand!. The birth pains are bringing forth the grandest baby imaginable – the Kingdom of God revealed in our Coming Champion and Bridegroom, Jesus Christ!
NOW MY CHALLENGE – WATCH THIS VIDEO, AND RESOLVE TO DO SOMETHING. WE ARE. I HOPE EVERY WAKEFUL SAINT WILL DO THE SAME.
Short-term power outages can be inconvenient, Long term outages deadly!
LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE!
Our Mossyrock, WA Signal Group is sharing how we can be prepared for outages. Most of us can handle power outages for a few hours but how do we prepare for shut-downs for days, and Lord forbid, for weeks or longer? Our electrical grid is more fragile and vulnerable to failures than most realize. Outages can be caused by:
By weather – wind, snow, ice, and wildfires
By earthquakes
Solar flares
Brownouts where the system is overtaxed
By aged systems failing
By physical sabotage, terrorism, or war – including cyber-attacks and EMP’s (Electro-magnetic pulses)
Flashlights (regular battery and rechargeable), lanterns, candles, solar yard lights
How to cook and stay warm?
Warm clothing
Fire wood, gas fire places, propane, white gas or oil.
Heat a limited area and make sure of proper ventilation
A tent indoors many help you stay a little warmer without heat
Share your heated spaces with neighbors or ask neighbor if you can stay with them
Have fire-starters like lighters, matches, striking rods, and flints
Don’t let your pipes freeze
Have back-up stored water, and the ability to gather and purify
If the toilet stops
If city water sewer systems are closed down use chamber pots and outhouses.
Septic-based toilets can be flushed with buckets. Fill toilet tanks.
When the refrigerator and freezer dosen’t work
Refrigerators keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer for about 48.
Avoid opening the doors. Eat the most perishable first.
Move away from needing refrigeration. Find other preservation methods
Generator backup a couple hours at a time with freezer compartment on coldest.
If you have a generator practice running it safely and have fuel to run it.
When your phone and internet stop
Old style land line phone if phone lines are active
Satellite phone
Walkie talkies
CB’s
Ham radio
Battery radio You may use a car radio.
When the banks are closed and cash machines don’t work
Keep cash at home and items for barter
When the grocery is closed
Fall back to your food stores
When the gas stations can’t pump
Have stored gas
Car pool with neighbors
Have good shoes and boots and be use to walking
A good bike
A wagon to move things
Other dominos may fall bringing cascading challenges!
Your place of employment
Internet
Police and fire services
Hospitals and pharmacies
Transportation systems
Delivery trucks and US mail
Oil refineries
Farmers’ irrigation water
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS: MOVING FROM PREPARATION TO MINISTRY
A long-term grid-down situation could cause catastrophic social consequences. In a long-term situation refugees will be looking for water, food and heat. This is a good reason for being a praying Christian, to be prepared, and ready to help others. Remember God loves to display His miraculous, saving grace and will to use you as His grace instrument!
This morning I heard the geese. There has been a regular flock flying over our area, low and slow! I think they land in the marsh nearby.
When we first moved to our property on the river, we came on weekends to rest and pray. It was so peaceful and we needed it. There began to be 2 geese who landed on our beach, facing the land they would honk and honk. This happened several times when we were present. As an intercessor and prophetic believer, I recognized the call to pray. It was an all hands-on deck kind of call!
Geese fly in groups and take turns as the point goose to allow the last leader to rest by moving back in the ‘V’. Prophets say they symbolize the intercessors. I agree.
I began asking about prayer in the gatherings I was in. One rather large church had none. Literally none. They made their excuses about busy schedules and folks just didn’t seem interested.
My response, “We have to try!” And so began a Friday afternoon prayer group. We started on ZOOM. Two years later it’s still going, both in person and on Zoom. Its become a powerful political action prayer for Washington and beyond.
The other group I am involved with is still putsing along. It doesn’t have a focus and often its more about fellowship than actually putting prayer to our words. The positive thing is learning to pray and become more comfortable with the, “humble prayer of a righteous man”. Others have come and started to pray aloud, so valuable. Many burdened hearts have come clean and been encouraged.
One night we were returning from a trip late. It is very dark here in the mountains at night, but there was no mistaking the coyote calls. Loud and near, so near I wondered if they were in our front yard. I knew they were trying to get to the nesting geese. “Alarm, alarm, protect the young, fly and fight!” I heard myself praying.
Prayer groups were struggling. They just needed training, prophetic insight and deliverance. And we gathered to assist them in their journey.
So much has changed in the last 4 years for us. A huge move back to the NW, living in West Seattle. Where we made a sweet home for 12 months as we got our lay of the land and figured out where God was opening a space for us. Then the plandemic and all the corruption and evil began to be exposed. Those geese honked and honked, to call the sleepy saints to get busy and pray together.
Others across our nation were already involved in praying for governmental change and actions points. It has only increased and I am pleased. Pleased to see the two geese has become a much larger flock. Since spring they come and nest, honking as they come and go. Then the happy parents gather their goslings on the river and teach them. They learn to fly in those protected places.
As fall approaches more and more geese cross over our area and rest in the protection of the marsh. We are so blessed to encourage prayer and teach the flock. The ones that are injured we show a clear path to health and joy-filled living, covering them as they stretch their wings and fly.
As I heard the geese this morning and took stock in what was and what is today. Big changes, and let us not grow weary as the day approaches. Our Savior hears each one and loves them too. PRAY!
Pamela CG Johnson
EMOTIONALLY FREE: LESSONS FROM MY LORD JESUS
Jesus is a full-spectrum Person. In other words, He is an extremist! He spans the limits! Jesus is fully present with the depths of crushing grief, and the heights of ecstatic joy. He is ambidextrously “bi-polar” able to weep or rejoice freely with all his heart. I learn so much from His freedom to weep and laugh!
Jesus pegs the limits of grief. He is called “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” – not just His personal grief but that of His lambs. We see him moved with compassion for the crowds. We see him weeping for His nation because of His vision of the destruction of Jerusalem. He comes to His personal physical limits at Gethsemane. He is crushed at the Olive Press. He feels utter abandonment by friends, and also feels like His Father has abandoned him. He is not hiding but is present with grief! Could we have such capacity?
Hebrews 1:9 says of Jesus, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.” Jesus scaled the highest-limits of joy. No person has fully ascended those elevations of pleasure and delight which our Lord has summited.
How do you picture Jesus spinning and dancing with Joy as the Apostles returned with their reports of success? “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” Luke 10:21.
The disciples probably never thought achieving Jesus’ level of joy would be achievable. But He promised them, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” John 15:11. Wow to be so completely full of joy, even having Jesus’ joy in them! We are talking about escalated, sky-high joy! That level of joy is regarded by some as radical and out of the safe range.
Many of us endeavor to stay in the range of the safe and socially acceptable emotional parameters – not too joyful, not too sorrowful. Jesus was emotionally free to fathom the depths and soar the heights!
Jesus is my emotional Mentor. He is teaching me to be uninhibited and secure regardless of the experiences, thoughts and the emotions. He is with me in the most crushing circumstances. I am free to go into the heavy waters of people’s losses and nightmares.
I can also travel to peaks of joy I have never before hazarded mounting, relishing the reality that my name is securely written in heaven! What I have outstrips the joy of new wine, the plunder of battle or the winnings of a lottery.
Jesus is teaching me that I am safe and free to “get emotional” both with sorrow and joy. Some may think me emotionally unstable, but perhaps I am becoming emotionally released.
We like to quote Paul as he proclaims, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Such great counsel! We might remember that he also said, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” Romans 9:2. Paul possessed a free, full-spectrum emotional life.
One day I was officiating at a funeral in the morning and a wedding in the afternoon. What were my emotions doing? Paul urged us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” Romans 12:15.
Are you so emotionally free, secure and flexible that at any moment you may join a brother or sister in their unbounded joy, or devastating sorrow? I’m beginning to learn this emotional freedom from my Mentor, the Lord Jesus Christ!
A simple prayer: Dear Father, I want to experience total freedom in every department. Grant me emotional freedom in your Son Jesus Christ.
Today I lead a forum at our church on preparing for coming food shortages. I was impressed with the maturity and evenness of our participants. Some have been “Preppers” for years, others are just getting started. The most important thing was that we all share concerned for every member of the local body.
We keep our eyes on Jesus, not just the wind and waves. Food shortages constitute one wave to be aware of and prepare for – but our eyes must always be set on Jesus!
For those interesting in viewing the notes from our first meeting, Here You Go! I encourage you to consider doing something for your own church fellowship!
Steven C Johnson
Landing Strip Enterprises
RESPONDING IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF JESUS CHRIST
TO CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SHORTAGES. July 24, 2022
Thank you for joining us and caring about your church fellowship enough to be here. Our subject for discussion is, responding in the spirit and power of Jesus Christ to concerns about food shortages.
We will be covering several subjects on this matter and encourage your interactions, questions and suggestions. I hope we will all be good listeners, as well as talkers. Both are necessary to have a meaningful time.
Our end game is
First to discover how to prepare ourselves individually and as families for potential food scarcities. That’s independence.
Our second goal is to learn how we as believers in Jesus can support one another, particularly the vulnerable among us. That’s interdependence.
In the process of sharing we want to stimulate awareness and practical action rather than fear and anxiety. We are determined to maintain a Christ-centered, peace-filled attitude for greater community cohesion.
OUR TOPICS WILL BE
1 Are the danger warnings of food shortages credible?
2 What things cause food shortages?
3 What problems would we face if we had food shortages?
4 How can we prepare ourselves and our personal families?
5 How, as a Christian Church, can we watch out for and support one another in a food shortage window?
1 Are the danger warnings of food shortages credible?
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE NEWS ABOUT FOOD SHORTAGES?
From the UN to White House there are reports about food concerns. Economist and food experts are talking about it. Warnings come from economists and food analysts. The most practical and awaking warnings come from everyday farmers.
Discussion
I was talking to a man who specializes in loan to farmers. Some farmers are asking, “Can I take the risk of taking out a greater loan to cover fuel and fertilizer costs?” Many farmers are down-sizing their crops and herds. Some are quitting. This man said the farmers themselves will be ok. He also told me emphatically, “There will be food shortages.”
Simply type in “Food shortages” and you will find many fact-based articles. One estimate saw 700 million are in immediate peril. It is overwhelming. I can’t blame people for not wanting to know about it. America will do better than most nations. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy.
BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES AND ENCOURAGEMENTS ABOUT FOOD
CHRISTIANS CAN BE HUNGRY.
1 Cor 4:11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE FIX FOR HUNGER
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Rev 7:16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
SOMETIMES WE DELIBERATELY CHOSE HUNGER.
Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
A PROMISE FOR THE HUNGRY
Luke 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
WORKING YOUR LAND AND GAIN ABUNDANCE
Prov 28:19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS OR INDIVIDUALS MAY STEAL
Prov 13:23 The field of the poor may produce much food, but it can be swept away through injustice.
GOD’S GRACE CAN KEEP US ALIVE IN FAMINE.
Psalm 37:18-20 “The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.”
Psalm 33:18-20 “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
GOD CAN PROVIDE MIRACULOUSLY!
MANNA. Deut 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
ELIJAH PROVIDED FOR BY RAVENS. 1 King 7:4 JESUS MULTIPLIED FOOD. Matt 14:13-21
WATER RESOURCES
Stored in bottles, rain barrels, water heater
Well water. Generator backups and hand pumps
Purifying with filter, chlorine or boiling
Remember water for washing and toileting. Chamber pot and latrine.
I am amazed how some people have joy in the most challenging moments. Why is it that some seem to soar the upper strata’s of rarified Joy when many have trouble getting airborne? I suspect they graduated in the Joy 800 series doctoral level classes.
Our Lord Jesus graduated from the doctoral Joy class with highest honors! His pursuit of Joy gives him summa cum laud tributes. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Our Lord Jesus is the greatest model, going for the biggest prize by paying the biggest price. Jesus valued so highly the Joyful outcome He was willing to go the distance! All our Joys are connected to Jesus’ willingness to “Go for the brass ring.”
The Apostle Paul graduated with distinctions. Some might say he was a glutton for punishment but his avarice was for Christ’s Joy! In Romans 5:3-4 he says, “Not only that, but we also reJoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Some athletes reJoice when they, “feel the burn.” Paul rejoiced when he felt the sufferings! That’s advanced level Joy! Little children don’t think of squeezing Joy out of their suffering. Only a crazy person, or farsighted believer, can do this.
James also matriculated in the 800 series Joy classes. He is an expert in squeezing heavenly lemonade out of his trials. He advises in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure Joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James knew things about gaining Joy most of us are backward about. By faith the Lord Jesus, Paul and James knew Joy can be the outcome of the hardest knocks!
Now for the reality of feeling crappy and far from sensations of Joy. These upper lever Joy graduates actually believe, “All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28
How insufferably, unimaginably crass it would have been as Jesus was sweating drops of blood to sing, “ReJoice in the Lord always.” There are times when the sensations of Joy are drowned by loss, pain and grief. When we are honest with those feelings and yet “faith” it to Joy we are practicing upper division Joy.
Paul’s greatest concentration of Joy references are in Philippians. This is Joy in the jail cell. Paul and Silas added singing to their suffering Joy.They may not have felt “sensational” Joy but rather practiced volitional Joy, doing Joy when Joy is not felt. Note in all the Joy the mix of pain. We do not, “Fake it till we make it” We Faith it until we Realize it. Upper division graduates can feel pain and operate in Joy at the same time.
We must consider Paul’s, “ReJoice in the Lord always” verses as they comingle with other heart-felt conditions.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 2 Cor 1:8
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Rom 9:2
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2 Cor 11:28
Small children think pain and Joy are either-or. Upper division Joy grads know pain and Joy may be realized together.
Habakkuk was a classmate of James and Paul. In his term paper he wrote:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I Yet will I be Joyful in God my Savior. Hab 3:17-18
Habakkuk astonishes me. Without apparent success, fruitfulness or even something to eat, he is able to reJoice in God his Savior! I wonder if he sat next to Moses in class.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enJoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Heb 11:24-26
I see again and again so many of these doctoral level classes are about perspective and “values clarification.” These people somehow transitioned from the typical worldling’s thinking that early stuff was the highest delight, to Christ is the highest delight! These upper level scholars must perceive something of the goodness of God most of us miss!
David was an Alum of this school. He wrote in Psalm 63:3, “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.” David’s value system priced God’s lovingkindness weightier in the balance than all the delights of life! He must have encountered God’s love in a way most cannot imagine. I am beginning to learn from graduates like Stephen, when we keep our eyes on Jesus we receive upper division Joy in spite of momentary pain, even death.
Some are unwilling to register and show up for classes because the homework can be crushing. I haven’t taken all the classes, but I can tell you, the few I have taken have been challenging, but so worth it. Hope to see you in class!
Steven C Johnson
Landing Strip Enterprises
SHARE A STORY OF HOW YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ADVANCED TO UPPER DIVISION JOY.
MORE ON FOOD SHORTAGES
If your doctor discovered you had a life-threatening condition would you want him to tell you? If there was danger to our food supply would you want to know?
Recently I have written on this subject. I encourage you to research, pray and be lead by wisdom. Our church is having a meeting on this matter to see how we may care for one another and minister to others in challenging times. Remember fear is against the rules. We are overcomes. We are not ultimately preparing for challenges but for the appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!
