Just Meditating
by
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DO IT NOW
If I could make a little bug
That lives and walks and breathes,
On that could reproduce itself
And feed upon the leaves;
If I could make a little worm,
I know not how or why,
One that could turn itself into
A handsome butterfly,
I’d be proclaimed the greatest one
That anyone had seen.
I’d be in magazines and books,
On radio and screen.
But God makes millions every day
To feed the little birds.
The power He has to create things
Defies all human words.
If I could die upon a cross
To save one soul from hell,
But all the sins that I have done
Condemns my soul as well.
But there’s a precious sinless One
Who died for you and me.
He took all your sins and mine
And nailed them to that tree.
Why don’t we praise this gracious one
With every breath we breathe?
And send the message far and wide.
O’er land and over seas?
For Christ not only died for us
But rose again as well,
And offers us a place to live
In heaven instead of hell.
Forget the bugs; forget the fame;
Forget all things but HIM;
And tell the world that Jesus came
And died for you and them.
What’s your relation to our Lord?
Is your heart to Him given?
Have you made reservation yet
To have a home in heaven?
No sin can enter this great place
That He’s prepared for you,
But He will take your sins away
If you will ask Him to.
So come! His arms are open wide.
He’s this world’s only light.
Repent of sin and come to Him.
He’ll save you right now, tonight!
Do it now! Do it Now! Do it now!
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About the Book
Just Meditating was titled by Mary W. Johnson’s husband, Bernie. This was the first book of poetry written in 1999, but this is the last of the three to be published. It presents an inspiring collection of heartfelt poetry. Mary was given God’s gift of poetry at age eighty. Between the ages of eighty and ninety, she wrote three books, covering them lovingly with wallpaper so she could give them freely to everyone. In Him was the last one written, but it was the first to be published in Mary’s memory by her children in 2012. Praising Him was published in 2013. Just Meditating has now been published, the third in consecutive years, to complete the trilogy in time for what would have been her hundredth birthday.
Mary’s poetry shared her personal relationship with her Savior. Some poems simply gave praise to the Lord. Many poems spoke of Jesus’s cruel death on the cross. She spoke of looking forward to heaven and of being sure you are going there. She gave glory to God, who created man and our miraculous bodies. She examined prophecies regarding the end times, always pointing to the Bible and Jesus’s example for our lives.
Her lifetime of Bible study and love of the scripture was evident in her poetry. Through this knowledge, she referenced her poetry to the passage that inspired it. Mary’s faith and dedication to her Savior was demonstrated through her life of service and giving to others. Her life was an inspiration to her family, her numerous church friends, and her community. Her family was blessed to be able to share their mother’s gift of poetry with you.
About the Author
Mary Johnson was born May 12, 1914, in Wauchula, Florida. Her father was a Baptist minister, who also farmed to support the family. They moved around often in central Florida. She was the youngest child and had six brothers.
She graduated from Florida Southern College with a teaching degree in 1940. She married Bernie Johnson June 2nd later the same year. She taught first grade while raising four children: Bernice, Bill, LeAnn, and Ray. Somehow she made time to care for elderly family members in her home. Mary loved to bake and sew. She was very creative and could make and fix anything, often using her special weather-strip adhesive.
Mary taught Sunday school for many years and later taught Bible Studies. She became a Bible scholar, studying it daily. She was given God’s gift of poetry at age 80. She artistically made Christmas cards with her poems inside. She wrote and made three books of poetry which she meticulously
Covered with wallpaper and gave them out freely to everyone.
She was a founding member of Scott Lake Baptist Church of Lakeland, Florida. Mary enjoyed reciting her poetry at The Lighthouse Mission, supported by her church. Her indelible imprint was on many including the 150 plus that attended her ninetieth birthday party celebration at church. Her life of service was an inspiring example to all.
Mary had a lot of vitality and loved adventure. She used to say, “Go” was her middle name. She looked and acted younger than her years, and was a lot of fun to be with. She went parasailing at age 90, and a few weeks before she died went for a motorcycle ride with the “Faith Riders”. Her church celebrated her life with a “Mary Johnson Appreciation Day”. She was cheerful and had a smile on her face up until the very end, when she passed away of cancer in 2007, and went to heaven to meet her Savior at age 93.