The evening sun hangs low, in the distant reddened sky,
While dusk moves in stealthily, from the east.
The whip-poor-will is singing her mournful song,
As the labors of daylight soon cease.
The darkened silhouettes of the mountains so tall,
Rest snuggly against the deep, twilight sky.
The stars all shimmer like diamonds, so rare,
As the full moon shines its bright, silvery light.
Another fine day has come and now gone,
Like a dusty traveler who is weary from the road,
Who has travelled long, to some faraway land
And then rested, after lightening his load.
Velvety quiet has finally, gently settled in,
Like some silent guest, who is completely at peace.
It’s a recipe that beckons me somehow, to peaceful, restful, much needed sleep,
As a distant, lonely coyote is heard, calling for a friend.
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
The One
They stood as one and watched from afar
As slowly, He entered their town,
With dust covered feet, that carried their hope,
The One called the Bright Morning Star.
Together, as one, they ran hopefully to Him,
Crying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
They knew when their faith embraced mercy and love,
The sores and scars of the flesh would grow dim.
To be healed and made whole was the hope of each one,
Wrapped in rags, as the dust swirled about,
To be cleansed of the shame and made whole once again,
To be touched by God’s own precious Son.
“Go and show yourselves to the priests,” He said,
As pity swelled in His heart for the ten.
Faith gave wings to their feet, as they turned and went
And watched life return to the flesh that was dead.
No longer ten, but now only one,
Who was healed and cleansed and made whole,
Turned steadfastly around as joy flooded his soul
And loudly glorified God! It was done!
He then fell at His feet and gave thanks from his heart,
This one, which once watched from afar.
“Ten were cleansed, the nine, where are they?”,
Asked the Lord, of those who chose to depart.
“Stranger, are you the only one to give thanks and return?”
“To turn back and give glory to God?”
The nine continued on to the task of the Law,
Humility, gratitude, dependence...
They failed to learn.
“Rise and go your way;
Your faith made you well,”
Said the Lord,
To the one, on that day.
Hear me now, when I say,
Let’s give thanks to the One
Who touched our filthy rags
With His precious blood, did He pay.
Let’s return and give thanks,
Each new day that’s given,
To the One who cleansed us from sin,
God’s only dear Son.
To Him, be the glory, the honor and praise!
He called us and made us His own!
Let our hearts return often to offer our thanks.
Keep us humble, grateful, dependent,
Throughout all of our days.
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
Victory
When daylight is dimming,
As the sun sets so low
And the coolness of dusk settles in,
My gaze is fixed upward
And my lips offer thanks,
For the many victories
You’ve caused me to win.
Not my might nor my power
Has conquered my foes,
Not my wit or my wisdom at all,
But your Spirit that dwells on the inside of me,
Gave me strength
And caused the enemy’s fall.
Your Word, it sustained me
All through the day long;
Lit my path, gave me peace and made me strong.
Your Presence, my Lord,
In my life each new day,
For that, I do earnestly long.
With You Spirit, Your Word
And Your Presence, so dear,
The enemy’s plan can’t succeed.
And I’ll always give thanks
At the close of the day,
To my Lord, who’s supplied all my need.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
His Favorite: Thoughts From the Back of a Motorcycle
Lord, what must Your
Favorite color be?
I so often ponder that.
For the wonderful world
You have made for mankind
Is a most exquisite habitat.
Is your favorite color, cornflower blue,
Like the lovely fall skies above
Or the blue of the deep, dark
Ocean at noon,
Or the pale eyes of the children you love?
Could your favorite color be
The mid-summer green,
Of the mountains all covered in trees,
Or the deep, dark shadows cast in Fall,
When the colors change in the leaves?
Is pink the color that
Captured your heart,
Like the horizon
At the close of day,
Like the tiny flowers that
Blanket the fields,
Where the breeze blows
And the butterflies play?
No matter the color,
That pleases you most,
I am thankful for one and for all.
For Your radiant glory
Is abundantly seen,
Throughout this diversely, beautiful
Celestial ball!
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.
Reflections on Luke 6:46 Spoken In The Summer of Life
The Lord spoke to me through scripture, as my pastor’s wife, Shelia Artt, was teaching the ladies and I will forever be grateful to Him for that.
Reflections on Luke 6:46
Spoken in the Summer of Life
Why, O Lord, would you call out to one
Whose life was in such a dark mess?
Why would you reach out your hand to that one
In love and in mercy, to save and to bless?
How can youth be so deaf and blind,
To want its own dark way?”
To crave the pleasures of this world
And keep your love at bay?
This heart was so far from your sweet Way,
I scarce could even know
What it would cost to bridge the gap;
Your love for me, to show.
I’m thankful to you for not walking away,
For choosing my life, to pursue.
For asking me, “Why do you call me Lord,
And not do what I tell you to do?”
That Word was a lifeline extended to me
When I thought I needed no help.
A portal to see, for the first time in life
And no longer live only for self.
You blotted the stains and the spots on my life
With Your precious and innocent blood,
Called me child, gave me hope, filled my life
With the Light of Your living, powerful Word.
Your Spirit within helps me steady the course
When I falter, as humans will do.
Your pure voice of wisdom holds my foot to the path,
Shines the light, O sweet Spirit of Truth.
From the Summer of youth to life’s season of Fall,
Your faithfulness is as sure as the sun.
To keep my heart warm, to light life’s dark times,
To assure me, You alone are the One.
You are all that life is truly about,
All that matters to man at his end.
While we breathe let us live to honor Your name.
Use our lives to help other’s lives mend.
Nelda Johnson
Copyright 2020
Gifts From Above 