The Best Devotions of Barbara Johnson: Finding Joy and Hope in Tough Times (A 60-Day Devotional)

by Barbara Johnson, Thelma Wells (Foreword by)

Overview

If Barbara Johnson has brought comfort to thousands of women, it’s not because her life has been comfortable. Barbara has known more heartbreak than most of us ever will. But that is why her encouragement truly inspires, why her humor makes us smile, and why her insightfulness can move us to tears. Through thick and thin, Barbara has held onto God--and so she is uniquely qualified to help us see how God holds onto us and won’t let go, no matter what life dishes out.The sixty selections in this book represent the cream of Barbara’s devotional crop. Kick your shoes off, settle back, and unwind. Or give this book to someone you know who would enjoy a chuckle, a reflective pause, an "Aha!" moment, maybe even a tear. Insights and encouragement lie within--and more than a few grins!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310877653
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	12/21/2010
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	769 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Barbara Johnson was the founder of Spatula Ministries, a coauthor of various Women of Faith devotionals, and the author of numerous bestselling books, including Boomerang Joy, Living Somewhere between Estrogen and Death, and Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy.

Read an Excerpt

Have You Checked Your Wardrobe Lately?
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another . . . but above all these things put on love. COLOSSIANS 3:12--14 NKJV
Like everybody else, I have to get up and get dressed every day. Too often I go to my closet and throw my hands in the air: 'I don't have anything to wear!' My husband, Bill, shakes his head and laughs. 'No really,' I whine, peering into my closet and surveying the rod of hangers drooping with weight.
'This jacket is too worn,' I say to myself. 'It's got little fuzz balls all over it. This dress has gotten too small. That blouse hangs wrong at the shoulders; why did I let my sister talk me into buying it? This little number is totally outdated; I can't wear that. The blue sweater is the wrong color for my skin, and the pink one has a stain. Here's a good blouse, but I always feel frumpy in it. This one's uncomfortable; it chafes. This skirt is too long. This one's too short . . .'
I sit on the edge of my bed and pout: 'Nothing to wear!' Bill is already back in the kitchen, oblivious to my dismay. Seasons come and go. Clothing styles change. Differ-ent regions of my anatomy fluctuate in size. Fabrics wear thin, fade, and lose their appeal. Good thing I have another closet with unlimited choices. I have a wardrobe that will never fade, wear out, or go out of style. Best of all, these clothes fit perfectly each time I pull them out and put them on. Have you checked your spiritual wardrobe lately? Recently a friend sent me a reminder about the apostle Paul's list describing the garments of the Holy Spirit in his letter to Colossian believers. First on his list is tender mercies. Also known as compassion, tender mercies are acts of empathy for weak or hurting people. They are usually motivated by feeling the same kind of pain as oth-ers or being able to imagine it. I call tender mercies the underwear of God's wardrobe---personal and next-to-the-skin. They are the foundation for everything that goes on the outside. Next on Paul's list is kindness. Everyone can use a warmhearted deed as simple as a smile. But kindness is more than that. It is an attitude that becomes part of your lifestyle. It involves treating others with honor and significance. The attitude of kindness is everyday stuff like a great pair of sneakers. Not frilly. Not fancy. Just simple and comfortable. Humility is next. No matter how much we win or lose in life, God wraps us in a beautiful cloak of grace. When we're humiliated, he loves us exactly as we are. When we're in the limelight, we understand the big part he played in our success. Meekness is one of my favorite things to wear. Some people think it's nondescript, but I disagree. Meekness makes it possible to endure difficult circumstances and poor treatment at the hands of others. It is a durable garment with interesting textures. And meekness looks different on everyone! How about long-suffering? Sometimes I wish that old rag would just wear out so I could get something more glamorous and colorful. But I know God has fashioned even this to enhance my life. There are times when long-suffering is the only appropriate thing to wear for a particular occasion---and then I'm glad it's in the closet.
Bearing with others and forgiveness are the outerwear of God's designs. They are the last things we pull on over everything else before we go out into the world. It would get awfully cold without them. They protect us from the elements and keep the wind from blowing down our necks. As we go in and out of various experiences, we button them up often and keep trudging.
Above all else, Paul says, put on love. Without this, we are never fully dressed. You might think of love as your best hat or the jeweled pin on the lapel of life. It is that one essential accessory you should never leave behind. Dust it off, shine it up. Never go out without it!
Put away the shabby clothing of the past and enjoy all the garments in your spiritual wardrobe. Dress like the woman God made you to be. He replaces sackcloth and ashes for garments of praise!
***
Dear God, thank you for the garments of grace you've prepared for me. I like your style. When I'm feeling poor and ragged, I'll remember you keep your children well dressed. Amen.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Thelma Wells 9

Have You Checked Your Wardrobe Lately? 13

Golden Moments 16

Twenty-Five Ways to Make Your Day 19

Forgiveness Means Get Over It 22

No Strings Attached 25

Be a Joy Germ 27

Enjoy the Ride! 30

The God Who Sees 33

A Gift from the Scrap Pile 36

Dot-to-Dot Living 39

Bountiful Blessings 41

The Most Powerful Perfume 44

Encouraging Words 47

Drunk Without Drinking 50

Little Reminders 53

Delightfully Deceived 56

The Whole World in His Hands 59

Never Cage Joy 62

God’s E-mail 65

We’re All Toads 68

Grace-full in His Sight 71

Singing in the Rain 74

“Show Me the Love!” 77

Love Everflowing 81

Diamond Dust 84

The Road to Hana 88

Keep Sending Out Love 91

Hooray for Gardening! 94

God’s Kingdom Fireworks 98

Nestle, Don’t Wrestle 101

The Genius of Kids 105

Unquenchable Grins 111

Never Outgrow Motherhood 115

Whatever, Lord! 119

Love More and Regret Less 122

The Boomerang Principle 124

All My Marbles 128

Birthday Countdown 133

Making Life Bearable 137

The Big Joy Room---In the Sky 139

Crazy Quilt 144

Spread Your Joy 147

God’s Spiritual Stove 150

Waterproofing Life 153

The Messages of Hands 157

Anticipate the Best! 160

Those Struggle Muscles 164

Humble Joy 167

God’s Tear Bottle 170

Gotcha! 173

Prayer as Ointment 176

Heir-Conditioning 179

Season of Joy 182

Hug-a-Day Club 185

Scrapbooks of the Soul 188

Living at Geriatric Junction 190

Just a Little Hope 194

Dream Big 197

Merrymaking 201

Blessed by Stress 205