Scriptures and Scones: A Devotional

By Michelle Johnson

Start your mornings with a hot cup of coffee and some precious time with the Lord. This wonderfully inspirational book is sure to strengthen and enrich your daily walk with God. Learn how to truly forgive, release the peace of God in your life, and put your troubles behind you. Enjoy your mornings with the Lord refreshed and renewed!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490853697

Michelle Johnson

Michelle Johnson is the writer, baker and voice behind www.DogTreatKitchen.com. An exceptional love of dogs has led her to create a website on how to spoil your dog with healthy homemade treats. She believes that all dogs, pure or mixed breed, puppy or senior, healthy or special needs dogs, deserve the very best homemade dog treats. She has been creating and testing original dog treat recipes for over 5 years. She lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.

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Copyright © 2014 Michelle Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All scriptures are taken from the Authorized King James Bible.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5370-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5371-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5369-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014917332

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/25/2014

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 Forgive: To Give Before

Chapter 2 The Push

Chapter 3 Truly Saved, or Just Know Christ?

Chapter 4 We Limit God through Our Unbelief

Chapter 5 The Bountiful Eye

Chapter 6 Lies, Their Source, and How We Overcome Them

Chapter 7 Cast All Your Care upon Him

Chapter 8 Being Overwhelmed

Chapter 9 My Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness

Chapter 10 Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Chapter 11 Keep Thy Heart

Chapter 12 Feeling Useless

Chapter 13 Be Careful for Nothing

Chapter 14 Encourage Yourself in the Lord

Chapter 15 Hope Thou in God

Chapter 16 Let Your Light Shine

Chapter 17 From Anxiety to Perfect Peace

Chapter 18 Guilt

Chapter 19 Peace

Chapter 20 Self-esteem Problems

Chapter 21 All Things Richly to Enjoy

Chapter 22 A Praying Mother

Chapter 23 Exercise Thyself unto Godliness

Chapter 24 Be Still, and Know That I Am God

Chapter 25 Do You Have a Vision?

Chapter 26 Forgetting That Which Is Behind

Chapter 27 React or Respond

Chapter 28 The Miraculous Christian Life

Chapter 29 Over Your Head, Under His Control

Chapter 30 All Things Work Together for Good

Chapter 31 Draw Nigh to God

Chapter 32 They That Wait Upon the Lord Shall Renew Their Strength

Chapter 33 The Lord Delighteth in Thee

Chapter 34 ‘Loneliness

Chapter 35 Bloom Where You’re Planted?

Chapter 36 Happiness v. Joy

Chapter 37 Treasure of the Heart

Chapter 38 Conflict: It’s about Who Is Right

Chapter 39 In a Fog?

Chapter 40 Beware the Bond of Hatred

Dedication

Special thanks to all of my friends and family who have supported me over the years, but especially to Sandee, Paige, Judy, Liz, Carolyn, and my wonderful mother, Natalie.

For my darling daughters, Samantha and Amanda, whose presence in my life brings joy unspeakable. Thank you for all of your loving support and encouragement.

Most of all, thanks to my loving husband, Rob, without whose support, none of this would be possible. No matter what life throws at us, know that you’ll always be my hero.

Introduction

W hen I was twenty-seven, I met the Lord in the bathroom. Yes, that’s right—the bathroom. I needed a quick breather from my busy day and ducked into the one place where I could have privacy. For the first time, I invited the Lord Jesus into my life.

We lived in Chicago at the time, as my husband, Rob, was on a business internship. My daughters, Samantha and Amanda, were three years and three months old, respectively. Like every young family, we had a lot going on.

I opened up my heart to the Lord Jesus, asking Him to come in to live through me in everything I said and did. From that moment on, I have never been the same.

Suddenly, the Scriptures opened up to me and started to make sense. As my husband and I drove back and forth to Madison, Wisconsin, I would read chapter upon chapter aloud in the car.

The Lord was breathtakingly real, and I couldn’t get enough of Him and His Word. It has been that way for me ever since.

Over the years of reading and teaching the Bible, my fellowship time with the Lord has ebbed and flowed. Some days, I have read chapters of the Bible, and some days I have read nothing but Facebook. My favorite times, however, have always been when I share my mornings with the Lord.

I enjoy starting my mornings with a cup of coffee and a good soak in the Scriptures. It gives me wisdom for the day and affirmation of the direction I should take. I love to talk and walk with the Lord.

The Lord has blessed me with wonderful teachers and wisdom through the Scriptures. I created this book to share some of the beautiful, inspirational truths God has shown me.

I am far from perfect and fail daily in some of the principles the Lord has revealed to me. I’ve grown so much, though, and thanks be to God.

I try to do all things for His glory and His work. But, I’m human, and I fail often—especially on those mornings I neglect my Bible reading.

Each morning, however, when I start in His Word, I am fortified for my day. I am refreshed, renewed, and inspired to allow God to do His will through me.

I pray these devotionals bless you as they have blessed me over the years. So, grab your cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, a scone, and your Bible, and let’s start this morning off right.

Chapter 1

Forgive: To Give Before

W hen my oldest daughter, Samantha, was very young, she had a funny quirk. She didn’t like one of my best friend’s daughters, Marie, so Samantha would clobber her over the head with toys. I scolded her about this repeatedly, until finally, I had to lay down a no touching her,