Merry Christmas!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
This is Christmas. May you be blessed in knowing that this world is just a journey and one day we will celebrate Christmas in the presence of Jesus Himself!
Until next time, Sandra J

Once You've Seen Jesus

They were watching their sheep
When the angel came to them
Unto you a King is born
You must go to Bethelehem
Following the star
To the manger they came
And as they knelt to worship Him
Their lives would never be the same

Once you've seen Jesus
Face to face
You've seen a glimpse of heaven
Felt His mercy and His grace
You can pray for forgiveness
And call upon His name
Once you've seen Jesus
Your life wil never be the same

And as they knelt to worship Him
Their hearts were filled with joy
They knew their savior had been born
He was this little Baby Boy
Prophets foretold Him
And the wise men they came
And once they saw Jesus
Their lives would never be the same

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

The Greatest Gift of All

It is only days until most of the world pauses to recognize the birth of Jesus. Unfortunately, a lot of people will probably not even think about the Baby Jesus. In this world with all of its problems and commercialism they will not even pause for a moment to think about the greatest Gift of all. These are times of distress and anguish for many people-a failing economy, loss of jobs, loss of homes, illness, sadness, and the list goes on. Remember in all of this what was given to us. This baby is our redemption, our hope, our Saviour. Just as the angel told the shepherds that first Christmas night, "Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11. What hope! What wonder! What joy in this message!
"And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2:12-14
We all know what happened next-the shepherds went to find Jesus. Once they had seen Him, they left praising and glorifying God! I pray that this will be your response to the Gift that God has given us in Jesus Christ. Let Him be Lord of your life.

Happy Birthday Jesus!
Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year!
Until next time, Sandra j

Precious Gift

How soft the sound from the newborn Babe
In the manger where He lay
How sweet the song His mother sings
On this special birth day

How brightly the star shines up above
With all of heaven’s light
How wonderful the angels’ song
On this holiest of nights

How greatly my heart leaps with joy
When I think of what God did for me
I pray that His love touches every heart
When the gift of His Son they see.

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Merry Christmas!
Until next time, Sandra J

Christmas angel

I had the opportunity last week to watch a Christmas play put on by a church group. This was no ordinary play, however. All of the individuals involved have special needs. My sister-in-law was in the play. She was an angel. She has down's syndrome. Through the years that I have been privileged to be her sister-in-law, she has taught me a lot about life. She loves us all unconditionally. She talks to people that I cannot see. Sometimes she calls them angels, sometimes she will point to an apparently empty seat that she has directed her conversation towards and say "Jesus". I have no doubts that she is talking to Him. I think that these individuals have a connection and trust in God that we cannot even understand. I tell her often that when we both get to heaven, we are going to have a lot to talk about. She will say "Yeah"
I doubt that I will ever see another Christmas program in my life that is as inspiring as this one. The pure love and worship that I felt I will carry with me throughout the year. I think when we get to heaven that we may find out that we are actually the ones with disabilities.
Merry Christmas
Until next time Sandra J

Without Christ

Without Christ there is no Christmas-no reason for a holiday. We give gifts to the people we love because God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us and save us from our sins. Jesus was the first Christmas present. How then, can you take Christ out of Christmas? The wonder of the love of God is what this holiday is all about.

the Child in the manger
the Man on the cross
i see in Them hope
when all else is lost
for in the manger
He brought hope in all strife
and on the cross
He bought eternal life

Copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Merry Christmas, until next time Sandra j

What has happened to people

I was watching the news about all of the tragedies that happened when people were shopping the day after Thanksgiving. The most horrible of them all was the person who was trampled after opening the doors of a store to shoppers. I don't believe in evolution, but I think the behavior of people anymore could put into question whether the human race decended from apes. I have seen apes in a zoo that behaved better. What is it that fuels people to do mean and hurtful things? Is it all about self esteem? If they were the first person to save $10 on a tv (even though they trampled someone to get it) does it make them feel special? Or important?
Also why do people always want to see the worst in each other? Apparently we love it-just look at all the money spent on celebrity gossip magazines. I really think that if we all looked at each other the way that Jesus looks at us, with love and compassion and forgiveness, that the world would be a much better place. Even as Christians sometimes we are quick to seek out the worst in each other. We should be more loving and forgiving. God loved us enough to send His Son to die a horrible death on a cross so that we could be saved. Check out 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
Read it with the way you treat other people in mind. "And now abide faith, hope,love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" 1Corinthians 13:13
Until next time Sandra J

Christmas will soon be here

In all of the bustle of the Christmas season, take time to remeber why we have Christmas.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

i wonder what it was like to be there
when angels heralded His birth
the joyful news they told
of our Saviour come down to earth
i wonder what it was like to be there
as mary held Him near
could she have known what lay ahead
and shed a mother's tear
i wonder what it was like to be there
as the wise men came from afar
and layed their gifts before Him
guided only by a star
i wonder what it was like to be there
and hear mary's sweet lullaby
and bow before this tiny King
who, on a cross, for us would die

copyright 2007 Sandra Ward Johnson

God has been good to me

He knew me even before my birth
He numbers the hairs on my head
He has lovingly guided my footsteps each day
Before my first words were said

Who am I that God could love me so much?
All through my life I have felt His healing touch
When I look back, as far as I can see
God has been good to me

His angels encamp around me
And keep me safe in His care
Long before my time on earth began
He gave His Son, salvation to share

Who am I that God could love me so much?
All through my life I have felt His healing touch
When I look back, as far as I can see
God has been very good to me.

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Happy Thanksgiving!
Until next time, Sandra J

Happy Thanksgiving

I don't know what other people think, but I think that Thanksgiving gets skipped over in the rush for the marketing of Christmas(which is a whole other post for later). I personally take Thanksgiving very seriously. I know that it is hard for some people to be thankful for anything in this world that we live in. I am thankful that I know that I am only passing through and this is not my final home. I could go on and give you a list of all the blessings that I am thankful for. Things that are familiar to everyone because they are blessings that most of us have in common.
I do, however, want to tell you about some things that I thought I could never be thankful for and how they changed my life. I believe you should thank God for the good and the bad. By thanking Him for the bad you are giving it to Him. Remember to let things strengthen your faith. I know that having breast cancer has changed many things in my spiritual life. I don't think that it is easy to say that you are thankful for illness, but I am extremely thankful for what the experience taught me. I knew that no matter what, I was in God's hands. This increased my faith to a level that I had never felt before. I knew that whatever happened it was okay.
Letting God be in control is awesome. I saw His healing in my life when the cancer turned out to be much smaller that what had shown on my mammogram. I felt His comfort every step of the way. Now I am thankful every morning that I wake and can get out of bed. Some people can't.
I am thankful for people who pray for you. I mean REALLY pray for you. It makes such a difference. I think that the experience let me see the greatness of God. As you approach Thanksgiving, don't forget to give thanks for ALL things.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And sing praises to Your name, Oh Most High
To declare your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness every night.
Psalm92:1-2

Until Next time, Sandra

Breast Cancer Walk-Sandra's Bosom Buddies

Tomorrow the third annual breast cancer walk will be held at the Imaging Center at Murrells Inlet. The walk helps to raise money to pay for mammograms for women who have no insurance or cannot afford them. My team is called Sandra's Bosom Buddies. There are so many things that we can do to help people. Hopefully the money that pays for the mammograms will save lives by screening women who otherwise would not go to a doctor until they actually found a lump. Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Living Thankfully

I know that I am probably like most other people. I always have a list of things that I would like to have. Not that I really need. Things I just want. Most of them are not important and I can live without them. A woman can only carry so many pocketbooks or wear so many pairs of shoes. There are so many things that we take for granted everyday that other people have to live without. Like, a roof over our heads, more than enough food to eat, heat in the winter, airconditioning in the summer, a car.......etc. I want to live thankfully. I try to remember to be thankful to God for all the things that He has provided us with while we dwell on this earth.
This doesn't just include "things". I am thankful for my loved ones, my friends, and my church family. I am thankful every morning that I wake up first of all, and second that I am able to get up and live another new day. May God bless you ! Keep living thankfully,
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Birthdays(again) and breast cancer

Well tomorrow is my birthday. Usually it never seemed so important to me. It is very important this year because I am two years cancer free. When I wake up tomorrow morning I will be thankful for what is and that God overcame that could have been. I don't know why I am one of the blessed women who was diagnosed early and spared the chemotherapy. Many are not and have to go through a great deal more. I will always have a chance that cancer could return or I could have a new diagnosis. But you know what , why worry about what you cannot control? My birthday wish is for every woman who reads this blog to make sure that they have regular checkups and mammograms. Remember if we prayed as much as we talked to our friends, we would be so much closer to God!

When I think my prayers
God cannot hear
He is not far away
It is because
I don't take the time
To hear what He has to say
Sometimes, I don't stop to think
That He is all around
And every single step I take
I walk on holy ground
No burning bush to light my way
Sometimes the path grows dim
If I want to see the light
I must keep my eyes on Him
In every single breath I take
In Him my hope is found
He knows my life
He knows my heart
I walk on holy ground.

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

True love

For anyone who doesn't know, I have a chihuahua named Rosie. The wonderful thing about Rosie is that she loves me unconditionally. When I am home, she follows me around and when I sit down she sits in my lap. Occasionally when she is sitting in my lap and someone gets near me, she will snarl at them. She is loyal and asks nothing from me but food and attention. She has seen me at my best and worst and still loves me. Isn't that the way that we should love people? Isn't that the way that God loves us? He knows me-everything about me- and still loves me. He allowed His only Son to die for me (and you). I am not perfect. I make plenty of mistakes, but through His grace, I am saved.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16
Everlasting life-wow!
Until tomorrow, Sandra J
'

Who is Jesus?

He has a name that speaks volumes
To those who know Him best
To those whose lives are troubled
He is their rest
To all those who trust Him
He is the truth
Who is Jesus to you?

Who is Jesus to you?
Is He Lord of all you say
And all that you do
Is there anywhere that you go
That you can't take Him too
Who is Jesus to you?

A baby in a manger
With a star overhead
One who died on a cross
And rose from the dead
The only one who can give you
A life that is brand new
Who is Jesus to you?

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Breast cancer awarness

This will continue to be my topic off and on for the rest of the month of October. This week I go to have my mammogram. Since my diagnosis of cancer two years ago, I have to get a mammogram every six months. It can be a nerve wracking time if I let it. I am confident that this will be my second year with NED(no evidence of disease). I still urge everyone to be diligent in having their mammograms every year. Early detection is the key! I am thankful everyday for life and health. I feel blessed every day that I am here to have a chance to encourage other women. God is good!
Until tomorrow, Sandra j

Rest

Have you ever just been so tired physically and mentally that all you want to do is just go to sleep? I go there a lot. There is another kind of tired- spiritual tiredness. There is so much that goes on in life that we don't understand, don't have control of, and can't figure out where God is going with it. Well I know that I don't have the means to understand how God works and His timetable and that is where faith comes in. I have to rest in Him, and just believe that He is in control. Fortunately He is and I'm not, because I would probably screw things up. In all kinds of tiredness just remember to let God be God and remember Jesus said "Come all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Birthdays

Time, you are a thief
Tiptoeing past
Taking away moments
We want to last

You put gray in the hair
And etch lines in the face
You speed up the world
While slowing down our pace

You race faster and faster
Our children grow taller
And somehow it seems
We just get smaller

Time, you are precious
And once you race past
We can't get you back
But the memories last

Time, I will make
The most of you today
Forget about the past
And meet tomorrow on my way

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Thunderstorms

I've been sitting here listening to the rain coming down and the occasional sound of thunder.
I can't say that I really like thunderstorms, but there is something strangely calming about being at home in bad weather. Just resting in the safety of my home. There are a lot of things that are true about storms that are also true in life. When the storms of life are flying around us, isn't it great to rest in God knowing that no matter what He will keep us and see us through them. And the rain, refreshing rain-washing the world and cleansing it. Everything is greener after a good rain. Isn't that what God does? He cleanses our sins and gives us a new,fresh start.
I pray that everyone reading this knows the saving grace of Jesus. It is free to all who will accept it. All you have to do is ask.
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Things

"Consider the lillies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is,and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith." Matthew 6:28-30

Though the storms may rage around me
My soul can still feel peace
For when I prayed to Him to calm the storm
The one He calmed was me.
He took my hand to guide me
To a place that was safe and dry
And in the haven of His love
My praise for Him shall rise

He holds us gently in His hands
He lifts us when we fall
He gives us a reason to live each day
And He hears us when we call

You see these trials in my life
That could never count for good
When I turn them over to Him
I see them as I should
Though to the world
I should just give up
My heart, it still feels joy
For from my trials come victories
That show His love to all

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

Judging People

Have you ever seen someone pull into a handicap parking space and when they get out of their vehicle to go in the store you wonder why such a healthy looking person has parked in a handicap space? I am guilty of having done this before. Now I realize that you can't always judge a person's health by the way they look. There are many debilitating illnesses that are not easily detected. Unfortunately, sometimes as Christians we judge each other by what we see, and not what God sees. Some of the most dedicated prayer warriors that I know never advertise to anyone what they are doing unless it is a simple "I'm praying for you." God knows their hearts and their actions. Living eternity in heaven is God's gift for accepting the gift of sending His Son to die on the cross as payment for our sins. The reward for those whose works are never known here on this earth will be to hear our Savior say, "well done good and faithful servant." I heard one time that there will be three surprises when we get to heaven-1)There will be people there that you thought you would never see there (2) There will be people missing that you thought sure would be there and (3) There will be people there who are surprised to see you there. Thankfully God is our judge and we are not each others-if we were no one would get to heaven.
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Unconditional, Everlasting Love

Lonely, sinful, here I stand
Held securely in His gentle hand
Always needing help from above
His unconditional, everlasting love

Jesus loves me, this I know
For His word has told me so
He sends it daily from above
His unconditional, everlasting love

I was once alone and afraid
Didn't know the price He paid
He came down from up above
To give unconditional, everlasting love

Now He sends me out today
To show other people that He's the way
He gives them forgiveness from above
His unconditional, everlasting love

And when this world I have to leave
I've got a home up there that you won't believe
I will live with Him above
Thanks to unconditional, everlasting love
He gives unconditional, everlasting love

copyright 2008 Sandra Ward Johnson

October Hope

I don't mean to dwell so much on one thing, but this is SO important to me. This is breast cancer awareness month. There are so many women that I know that have been touched by breast cancer including myself. If there is one thing that I learned through my experience is that there is always hope. For anyone out there who is going through cancer right now, know that there is hope. It is scary. Surgery and treatment are not fun, but, there is hope. Followup is extremely important after finishing treatments. Please, remember that early detection is the key. Keep thinking pink!
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Visit and join www.armyofwomen.org

Faith

My favorite Bible verse(actually chapter) is Hebrews 11. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " There can be no peace in life without faith in God. What else is there? For one example, take the stock market-people put all of their faith and hope into money and earthly things and they can be gone with a bad day on the stock exchange. I love all of the stories of the people that had such faith in God. Abel, Enoch, Noah,Abraham, Sarah,Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, Joseph all had this faith. I think the story of Enoch is too cool. Can you imagine being so close to God that you don't die, one he just takes you? Wow! Hebrews says " By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found because God had taken Him."(Hebrews 11:5). I don't know how people survive this life here without the faith that God has something better prepared for us. Every human faces sickness, trials, hard times, etc. It is just so much easier knowing that we are just visiting here and our real home is in heaven. It kind of makes a difference in the way that you look at everything. I live knowing that everyday of my life is in God's hands.
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Pink October

October is a very important month to me. Not just because Ray and I were both born in October. (Even though that is important). October is breast cancer awareness month. Two years ago this month, I had a mammogram after a "few" years of neglecting to have one. It turned out that I had a malignancy show up on the mammogram. I subsequently had a lumpectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy. By the time I had surgery, the cancer was actually only a third of the size that showed on the mammogram. And people think that God is not still in the miracle business! I know that if not for the prayers of my family, my church family, friends, and even strangers, things could have been a lot worse. I only had to have six weeks of radiation and no chemo. I know how very blessed I am. So now I am a cancer Survivor. The chance of a return or new ocurrence is always there, but, I can't waste today worrying about what could happen tomorrow. My whole point is that we as women don't always take care of ourselves the way we should. We put our children and spouses ahead of ourselves. October is a good time to schedule your mammogram-you will always be reminded by all the pink ribbons that it is time to schedule each year. Don't forget self-exams, but they are not enough. I had no lump and no idea that I had breast cancer. Take the time to call, email, text, however you communicate with your mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. Tell them you love them and encourage them to have a mammogram. Think Pink!
Until tomorrow, Sandra J

Random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness
I have been giving a lot of thought to what a random act of kindness is. I have decided that for me kindness is not random. As a Christian, it should be my way of life. I think that you have to set your mind to see people through the eyes of Jesus. Cashiers who are rude to you at the supermarket checkout are a challenge to love and be kind to-but maybe they need that smile or one word from you to change the way their day is going. I try to remember that something may be going on in a person's life that I don't know about that affects the way they act and treat people. We all have our moments(I know I do). In the Christian walk, love and kindness are not an option. You would be surprised at what a smile will do for people. Don't forget to pray for the people you come in contact with. You can be a blessing in their lives.Until tomorrow, Sandra J