JUNE 23
"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
- Paul in Colossians 2:6-7
June is a wonderful time for gardens -planning, planting, cultivating, growing, enjoying, and rejoicing in their provision. Yet while a garden may look wonderful and vibrant on the surface if roots on our plants are not strong, the first dry spell will burn them up or strong winds knock them down. If roots of plants are not strong and healthy our garden is a disaster waiting to happen. How can we know if the roots have problems? The first indication is if our plants come up when the weeds around them are pulled. Have we let the weeds linger so long they have grown too many roots to pull them out safely? Or have our plants grown too tall before they developed a sufficient root system to hold themselves up? Do we need to tie the tomatoes to stakes when spindly because of shallow roots? In other words, strong roots are vital in the success of any home garden. Without healthy roots there is no harvest!
What about our own roots? Are they healthy or unhealthy? As noted author Mary DeMuth once said “Walking in integrity, even when others don’t see or care is what really helps us to stay firmly rooted." Ultimately however, faith in God is rooted in his Word. We keep our roots strong and healthy by walking with Jesus in integrity, by kind words, good deeds, and fairness to all. People may judge us by how we look, speak, or even what we buy. But God judges us by what is in our heart and how we live. Yet if we keep our roots in Christ firmly anchored deep within our hearts, then we never have to fear rejection, difficulties, and droughts in our life because they can never destroy or damage us. Through the good times, bad times, and tough times, keep your faith in God and His word and your own roots will stay strong and healthy! Even though you may have trials and difficulties, if your roots in Jesus are deep enough then nothing can pull them out. Give thanks to our Lord today for His provision of nourishment and the rich soil of God's Word and Love. For as plants take life from the soil, rain, and sun; you too can draw life from God's Word, his soil of Love, and the bright life-giving radiance of his only Son.
Prayer:
Jesus,
Thank you for keeping my roots strong!
Amen.
Meditation For The Day:
Strong roots bring life. Weak roots bring death.
Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Summer Renewal Paperback – May 23, 2017
by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson
Used with permission of the family of the late Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson.
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)
Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.
She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral
Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H.
She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor,
Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC)
and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).
She received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies
from Andover Newton in Newton, MA.
Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc.
This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.
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I had the honor and privilege of working with Pastor Arnie Johnson
when I served as the pastor for the Richmond Community United Methodist Church in Richmond, NH from 2019 - 2022.
I personally have been deeply touched by Mary's writings. Her family has graciously allowed me to share them with you. - Pastor Sharon Sargent
"I always considered my ministry at Richmond as a shared ministry. Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did. I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! So, I would love it if you would use the picture of the two of us and mention Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson as my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond." - Pastor Arnie Johnson
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight other published books including:
"Activating The Power Of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach";
"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal"(Vol.1-4);
"Flying Free: Transforming Grief and Loss into Renewal";
Following The Angel Trail: In The Steps Of Jesus";
"Love In Action: The Healing Heritage Of The Counseling Ministry Of The Church";
"Visions Of Hope: Voices Of Americana";
"Healing Streams: Journeys Of Healing".
She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal "Journeys" and in the Keene Sentinel.