You Are Loved: An Affirmation of Unconditional Love Third Edition

By Ronnie Lee Johnson

You Are Loved is like chatting with God on a summer day. Just lounging in the shade with an occasional gentle breeze. The more you read the book the more you will understand what real divine love is all about. God will give you something to hold on to in this book. That something is His inconceivable love and compassion for you. God does not just love the world. He loves you, intimately.


“Ronnie is a caring and compassionate gentleman with a wealth of life experience. We would all greatly benefit from reading and implementing his ideas and counsel. In every book there are nuggets that should not be overlooked. I pray you find a few of those nuggets in this work that will be to your profit.”
Steve Veteto, PhD
Director, Rocky Mountain Campus
Gateway Seminary

It has been my privilege to know Ronnie Johnson for most of my life. I know firsthand of his background, education, and experiences, which have all qualified him to write this book. Most of all, I know of his Christ-motivated love for family, friends, and for those who have yet to know the love of God. I also know of his love for Christ, and that Christ’s love for him is his example and his purpose in life.
Leon Shelton
Life-long friend
Ogden, UT

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664237445

Ronnie Lee Johnson

Ronnie Lee Johnson is an American author, painter, financial adviser and ordained minister. Ronnie, having experienced the Drama of the Dawning firsthand, provides the very heart of a transformation in Christ. He is “more enamored with Christ than any other person, place or thing,” as he often says.

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Copyright © 2021 Ronnie Lee 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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3743-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3744-5 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/14/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Foreword

Inspirations

The Master

Memories

Believe

Overcoming

Prayer

Patriotic Thoughts

Hope and Faith

Wisdom

Wonder of Wonders

Epilogue

Endnotes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Nancy Johnson, my wife, the loveliest lady I have ever known.

Grady Johnson, my dad and friend, who kept encouraging me to publish this manuscript.

Jason Johnson and Laura Leigh Luirette, two fantastic Christian young people, as well as my son and daughter, who provided some rich writing material for this book.

Joe Sheppard, a long-time friend, I call the Prophet for his down-to-earth wisdom. He has given me much to think about through the years.

The late Chuck Conner, a friend forever, an encourager who has strengthened my spirit on many occasions.

C. R. Rodney Wall, a real slice of Christianity who lives it daily, and I have been so privileged to see his expressions of faith.

DEDICATION

This book You Are Loved is dedicated to my late father-in-law, Mr. Lloyd Robert Schahn, who is in heaven, anxiously awaiting our arrival. He is unquestionably the godliest and most righteous man I personally have ever known.

Perhaps nothing so portrays the life of Lloyd as the scripture on a card, which once hung on the wall in his house that he built in Orange, Texas. It read, Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).

Lloyd’s quiet and gentle spirit taught me more than any college or seminary could possibly have done. His subject was the Lord, and this is not in a fanatical sense either. The Lord had such a beautiful grip on his life that everything he said seemed to include the importance of God.

Some of the rich truths in this book that you’ll read will be those which I learned from the man I loved so dearly and respected so highly. I know that such great truths will refresh your own spirit and inspire you to influence others as well.

Papa, as we all called him, did not fit into the pattern of this world. He lived here only that one day he might live there (heaven, of course). Those who knew him best never questioned where he was going. Even the worst of men who were around him withheld their ugly jokes and smutty talk in his presence. They knew Lloyd did not welcome vulgarities.

Some time ago, a magazine carried an article that I wrote about my late father-in-law. It was entitled My Mr. Miyagi. In this article, I simply related the love that Lloyd showed to me by teaching and training me in Christ just like what Mr. Miyagi did in the Karate Kid movie. Once we learn the power of love, like what my father-in-law taught, we learn the power that can change a human heart; that power comes from Christ the Lord.

I dedicate this book to the most dedicated Christian I have ever known. Thank God for such an incredible servant and friend of Christ and humanity.

FOREWORD

Years ago, I sat and listened to a panel of young people discuss the subject of being a teenager in the 1990s. During the discussion, the question was asked, What do you feel is the greatest need for the youth of today? All on the panel consistently emphasized two responses. The first was the need to feel loved at home, and the second was very similar, the need to feel loved outside the home.

The heartfelt cry of our society today is to be loved, yet the definition of love is a very confusing one. Hollywood, the press, and social pressure have all given us a perverted perception of love. For years, the very word has been misused to refer to everything, from our attitude regarding sex, to our appreciation for our favorite entrée.

There have been hundreds and perhaps thousands of books written on the subject of love. However, in his book, You Are Loved, Ronnie Johnson gives a fresh approach to a sometimes-stale subject, a vibrant look at a sometimes-lifeless act, and a solid understanding to a sometimes-perverted attitude.

It has been my privilege to know Ronnie Johnson for most of my life. I know firsthand of his background, education, and experiences, which have all qualified him to write this book. Most of all, I know of his Christ-motivated love for family, friends, and for those who have yet to know the love of God. I also know of his love for Christ, and that Christ’s love for him is his example and his purpose in life.

John the Apostle said, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins…Beloved…God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:10, 11, 16).

As you read this book, rest assured that the words come from a man in whom the love of God is evident. Ronnie Johnson’s life is a channel of God’s love to a world that is desperately seeking real love.

Leon Shelton

Life-long friend

Ogden, UT

A Million Small Benefits

Oh, God, thank you for everything.

Lord, thank you for every single thing.

Jesus, thank you for all your blessings, which we take for

granted every day.

Thank you for the little flower that blooms in the spring,

For the glowing sun that shines upon our world.

For faithful friends who pass our way,

For the beautiful child that smiles after tears,

For delicious foods that dress our tables,

For the love and warmth our companion brings,

For the morning songs the early bird sings,

For prudent parents who care and bless us everywhere.

Thank you, oh, Father, for those sour pills life dishes out, too.

Even for the burst of a summer storm,

The bed we must lay our sick souls upon,

For even loveless acts that teach us right and wrong.

Thank you, dear Lord, for well bodies,

Sound minds,

Wholesome people,

Quiet times of prayer and praise,

And for many happy surprises only God could afford.

Thank you, precious Father, for a million small benefits,

As good and kind and gracious as heaven can bestow.

And most of all, thank you for a loving Lord

To pilot our lives midst the darkest days

And endless nights we must all travel through.

Thank you, dear Father, for "the God of Peace

That brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

That great Shepherd of the sheep,

Through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will

Working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight,

Through Jesus Christ;

To whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen

—Ronnie Johnson

INSPIRATIONS

Help Is Near

It is extraordinary to me how Jesus addressed sorrow. In the Bible, He appears almost indifferent to Mary and Martha concerning the death of Lazarus. They are close friends to Jesus and the sisters of Lazarus. They visit each other and know one another well. Yet Jesus does not even attend his funeral.

Even at the news of Lazarus’ illness, Jesus made no haste to come to their aid. After Lazarus died and had been in the grave for four days, Jesus still did not go to see Mary and Martha.

Finally, Martha learned that Jesus was near the town, and she went out to see Him. Mary sat still in the house according to the scriptures. It seemed as though Jesus allowed Himself to be elusive for a special reason. Why? Perhaps it is so both women would turn their attention from Lazarus—who represents flesh, sorrow, the temporary, and humanity —to Jesus, who represents spirituality, joy, the eternal, and life.

Lazarus spells finite, Jesus represents infinite. Lazarus stands for helplessness. Jesus speaks of the Helper that will come. Lazarus is the embodiment of death and the temporal; Christ is the equal to deliverance and life! The Lord wanted man to see His Father’s great glory, power, and reality.

There is a passage in the book of Isaiah that promises us: Behold, the lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1). Mary and Martha needed this reminder. God can do anything.

He can save any situation and hopeless soul. He desires you to leave your home of grief, sorrow, frustrations, failures, and look to Him.

There’s an old song titled Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. This song seems to give us such encouragement to turn our eyes upon Jesus and turn our eyes away from the valleys of discouragement, of death and despair.

Jesus is never far from our town either. We may sit in gloom. But the true Light is right before us. When we want out of the despair of life’s heartaches, Jesus is always there for us. The Bible says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

Too often, we are guilty of relying upon anyone or anything when a trial comes our way. Some of us panic. Some of us clam up into a shell of isolation. Some become bitter. In reality, we should lean upon the person who can help us most. The scriptures tell us, The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth (Psalms 145:18). There is no ambiguity about Christ’s availability to His followers. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Just remember this incredible promise: The LORD is nigh. When the worst comes, the Lord doesn’t change. He is nigh—close by! Whatever you’re facing today, whatever you may be going through in your life, He is nigh. Leave your troubles behind you and look to the Lord. He is right there with you, and He will help you. Reaffirm your faith—you are loved by the One who loves you the most.

An Early Bird

Shel Silverstein was a prolific author of children’s poetry. In his book, Where the Sidewalk Ends, he wrote a one-stanza poem called the following:

Early Bird

Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird

And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.

If you’re a bird, be an early bird—

But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

—Shel Silverstein ¹

Oh, the philosophy in these words. It is simple. It makes sense. But it says something for both children and adults that we do not want to miss. The emphasis is on being an early, early bird. Silverstein describes the balance in living: both the power of rising early and working hard, and the perfectness and peacefulness of sleeping in.

Before we can play, of course, work comes first. I suppose anyone can choose to be a worm. Effortlessly one can grow fat, lazy, worthless, and useless. But energy, enthusiasm and getting up early is when we capture the worms. Money simply does not just fall out of a tree in your yard; you and I become prosperous by how motivated and driven we are. In reality it really does come down to that extra effort and boost of energy to accomplish great tasks before us; whether we are an early riser or late sleeper. The height of laziness is having a sedentary spirit and attitude.

I am convinced that people who soar in their fields of expertise are people who have extraordinary enthusiasm and consistent desire to achieve success. People who choose ‘sitting, spitting, and whittling’ develop a mental lethargy and apathy over time. Even a thoroughbred needs rest, but there are those moments and days that we need the spirit of an early bird to get the job done!

The Lord, according to St. Mark’s gospel, tells us, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before