Father, feed me with the finest wheat
And with honey from the rock, satisfy my soul.
Let the water of Your Word wash over me
And cleanse and make me whole.
You give food to those who fear You, Lord,
You remember Your covenant, forevermore.
Your faithfulness is to all generations, O God.
You show mercy to and satisfy the poor.
Help me to incline my ear
And let Your Words not depart from my sight.
Help me keep them in the midst of my heart, O Lord,
For in the midst of Your Words, I find life.
Your Word breaks the snare
Of the trapper, O Lord!
Like a bird, my soul is set free.
My help is in the name of the Lord, my God,
For now and for all eternity.
Nelda Johnson Copyright 2020
Category: Encouragement
My Delight
If the governments of nations are not too great
For Your mighty shoulders to bear,
Then I know full well
That the cares of my soul,
With You, I can certainly share.
You lift the weight of all my cares and concerns,
As I purpose to cast them on You.
You grant me peace in their place
As I trust with my heart
In Your mercies each day,
That are new.
All praise to the King, who dances over me
And sings me songs
In the darkness of night.
All praise to His infinite glory and grace.
He is my hope, my sweet peace, my delight.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
A Woman In A Far Away Town
She came to the well at midday,
When the women of town were at home,
No judgement, no stares, no whispers were there,
Just the Samaritan woman alone.
No friends to walk with her to Jacob’s well,
No kindness to come alongside,
Always alone to finish her chore,
Five husbands, yet still not a bride.
She had never wed the man in her home.
She lived with him outside the law.
With her head hung in shame, she stood at the well,
Bucket in hand, with water to draw.
Standing near her, she saw a man at the well.
A Jew who could not look or dare speak.
She sought to ignore Him and finish her work,
Until he asked, “Will you give me a drink?”
A Jew asked a favor? This surely can’t be,
Yet with kindness He continued to say,
“If only you knew the Gift of God,
Living water I could give you today.”
Jesus had compassion and revealed who He was.
Told of her history and present day sin.
Never shamed her or judged her in any harsh way,
Because of this, she led many to Him.
Oh, that we could look past the stains others wear
And the shame of bad choices in life,
And offer God’s grace and an encouraging word,
Not judgement and stares filled with strife.
Let’s put on compassion and walk in His love,
Let’s build up and never tear down.
Let’s remember His love He so freely shared
In that long ago, far away town.
Nelda Johnson - Inspired by John 4:4-29
Copyright 2020
When Life Hurts
You O Lord, give the grace to stand,
The heart to fight
And the will to win,
When the schemes of the evil one
And his well laid out plans,
Seek to conquer, destroy
And bring death to man.
Your grace is sufficient,
Your power supreme,
Your love all consuming
And so it would seem,
No matter the situation,
No matter the shame,
No matter the sorrow,
No matter the pain,
Yours are able, through You,
Through Your power and might
To stand and to win and to trust,
While You fight.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
Days End Declaration
At the end of the day,
When all is said and done
And I climb into bed for night’s rest,
I ponder the day
And events that it held
And count myself incredibly blessed.
My life isn’t perfect
Disappointments abound,
Failures around every turn.
Regardless of that
My God loves me so dear,
With steadfast love, that can never be earned.
His great love never ceases,
His mercies new every day,
It’s never dependent on me.
That’s why this imperfect child
Feels so wonderfully blessed,
Because He’s opened my eyes that I might see,
That though I might fall,
His love lifts me again,
Plants my feet on the Rock,that I might sing,
Of His love everlasting,
His faithfulness so true,
That no event of the day is too great for my King.
For I’m kept by His power
And I’m filled with His love,
Trusting solely in His work on Calvary!
He endured the cross for you and me,
And I hold that truth dear to my heart,
No greater love has ever been shown!
I’ve taken solace in that from the start.
Nelda Johnson Copyright 2020
For Nattie on Your Baptism
I am ever so thankful, my Sweet Little One,
That today, you belong to Him.
Today you belong to our Jesus,
And today He calls you, “My Friend.”
Just as He is, My Love,
So are you, in this world,
A light in a very dark place.
Just as He did, Sweet One,
You also will do,
Share His love, His sweet mercy and grace.
Nattie, always trust in His wonderful Word,
And love Him with all of your heart.
Take His hand, My Love, and follow His way.
Be slow to speak, And ever so gentle,
Quick to listen, to forgive and to obey.
Jesus will always love you, My Love,
And forgiving He will always be.
So walk with Him now
With great joy in your heart,
For your eyes were once blind
And now they see.
Nelda Johnson copyright 2020
The Path
There’s a path that leads to His presence,
So sweet and rich and so fair.
Come with thanksgiving
And your mouth filled with praise.
Hear His heart while you meet with Him there.
Peace is the air
That you breathe while with Him,
joy, from His presence divine.
Hope for the future
That lies ahead,
Hope filled with grace so sublime.
Don’t despair to go
And meet with the One
Whose heart loves you more than you know.
Forsake all life’s distractions
And take that sweet path.
Rest in Him
Cast your care, as you go.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
Thoughts On Philippians 4:6-7
Be at rest, O my soul,
Be at peace within me.
Don’t be anxious for anything,
Said He.
Rather pray....talk to Me,
Give thanks and ask,
My promise to you, is My peace.
My peace is a mystery,
You won’t understand.
It guards and it garrisons about.
Your mind and your heart,
I will keep, dear child,
When you faithfully
Call upon Me.
It’s because of the blood
Of My own dear Son,
It’s through Christ
That I grant you sweet peace.
With a promise like that
I wonder, why do I fret?
Why do I wrestle in fear?
When all I need do,
Is stand up in faith
And whisper my cry in His ear.
A fortress He’ll build
Round my heart and my mind,
That no devil from hell
Can tear down.
For it’s sealed with the
Blood of the One that I love,
Who died,
And Who lives
And loves me.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
Be Purged
Pain is a two-edged sword,
My child,
It cuts, it wounds and we bleed.
We would like to escape
That cruel wound if we could
And seek shelter from that
Dark, painful deed.
But God, in His grace
Uses pain as a tool,
To cleanse, to purge, purify.
He gives beauty for ashes
And joy in the place,
Of the wound that could
Cause us to die.
For satan would seek
To target our pain
And poison our souls
Deep within.
He would render us useless
For all Kingdom good,
Flood our hearts
With the darkness of sin.
So yield your pain, dear child,
To your God, to your King,
So that satan can gain
No foothold.
Let God’s love flood your soul
For who wielded the sword
Who wounded,
Whose ways were so cold.
Be purged, purified,
Forgiving and kind.
Be tried, my child,
And come forth as gold.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
This poem was written for one of my children, who was deeply hurt by another. God is faithful. My child is whole.
Prayer
I danced with the King today,
Exhilarated by His love.
My heart leaped with joy,
My life cleansed by His blood.
I danced with the King today,
All else grew strangely dim,
As He filled all my senses,
Alone in the room with Him.
I danced with the King today
And spoke forth my prayer.
His heart filled with compassion
As He met with me there.
I danced with the King today,
I felt His embrace.
How precious to gaze
In His wonderful face.
Give Him your heart today,
Give Him your life.
Dance with the King yourself
And become His delight.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
Written on a day, when walking on the treadmill and praying, became the dance of a lifetime.
Gifts From Above 