Transformations

10/25/2024

NICE is NOT a fruit of the Spirit. I had a lady in my class several years ago that was renowned for her "niceness." After working through the issues of her heart for several weeks (in intensive inner healing) she finally slammed her fist on the table and said, "I'm sick and tired of being 'nice.'" I applauded her. As a matter of fact, the entire class gave her an ovation. We had all discerned that that we were not able to see her for her true self.
Before I offend all of you genuinely nice people, let me qualify "niceness." Webster's dictionary defines nice as "pleasant, agreeable, and satisfactory." Pleasant and satisfactory are acceptable but "agreeable" I have issue with. The problem is WE ALL SHOULD NOT AGREE!!! God is not boring and would not create a world of agreeable people.
You see, I've learned that when people expend most of their energy being nice they often put aside who they really are. Think about it, if you decide that you have to be nice… Who would you have been otherwise? I believe nice is a mask that folks often hide behind. (Especially in the South.)
The lady that I spoke of earlier was taught her whole life to "be nice" and by the time she was 50 she realized she didn't know who she was. She was pretty ticked. She had spent 40+ years presenting her self to be something she wasn't. And in doing so, she had hidden her true identity. She actually was a genuinely kind and gentle person but she had taken it to a different extreme. She was never able to give her opinion. She elaborated that she was never really able to disagree. In a lot of ways she had sacrificed herself for who others wanted to be. UGH… that (to me) is one of the grandest schemes of the enemy.
If we negate our true selves for the sake of niceness or to keep peace or whatever the lie is we are absolutely defying God's plan in our lives. How can you expect God to complete HIS good work in you if you decided you wanted to be something else? So, here's your ticket to freedom "nice" people. Decide today to take your mask off. NO MORE MR./MRS./MS. nice person! Embrace your authentic self. Let others FINALLY see who you really are. You will discover that God don't make junk and you will be surprised the freedom you will gain in just being you. It takes a lot of energy to be something that you're not.
Oh yea, and in doing so, please don't tell your family and friends where you learned this… I don't want all of the "mean" people calling me.

10/16/2024

I had a profound encounter with God last week. I was at an event where a man was asking for healing. He had cerebral palsy and had been in a wheelchair for 40 years. His hands and feet were crippled but he had the most beautiful spirit. His sweet daddy was with him and also asked for his sight to be restored. I was weeping at what I saw and their requests for healing.

After prayer and baptism, that young man did not rise out of that chair. His feet were not unfurled into health. No mention was made of his dad’s sight or lack thereof.

I was devastated. He didn’t rise up out of that water differently. I immediately looked for someone to blame and, as usual, I turned my dismay to the Lord. I demanded an answer as to why there was no change.

He simply replied. “It’s none of your business.”

He’s right, you know. It is none of my business how God navigates our lives. I can’t see the big picture. In actuality, I think that man has more healing than I. As I mentioned, he had a beautiful countenance and a sweet sweet spirit. There was no visible physical change after that immersion but I am changed.

I will continue to pray for that precious soul and his loving dad.

And, I know, that God did heal. The reality is that he can’t “not heal.” Healing is what he does. It is who he is.

He just doesn’t ever seem to do things the way I want or in the timing works for me.

I was healed in that experience. I am, again, healed by perspective. I hope that I remember this the next time I expect God to respond to my demands. For me, it’s the same lesson learned in a different manner. (I’m slow but I’m steady and consistent).

Thank you Lord for healing that man, his sweet daddy, and me. And, I look forward to seeing him standing someday. Quite possibly in a different place. But, no doubt, he and his sweet daddy will be healed and sight restored.

Thank you Lord for healing me a little more on this side of heaven.

10/11/2024

Last week I wrestled in my heart with God. There was something in my heart that I wasn't proud of. I explained to him that it's ugly, it has a mind of it's own, and brings HIM no glory. I've walked with HIM long enough to know that what starts in my heart will soon spill over into my deeds, words, and actions (And THAT certainly isn't pretty). Most importantly, it was blocking me from being who HE wants me to be - so I asked him to remove it. (Simple enough - I thought.) He refused. I argued (as usual). When i stopped arguing I asked why HE wouldn't just pluck it from my heart. THEN, we could move on and I could be closer to being who HE wanted me to be. He laughed. (He does that a lot with me - it gets my attention). He continued speaking.
"If I remove that thing from your heart then there is nothing gained on your behalf. If I SIMPLY remove it, you won't wrestle with it and you CERTAINLY won't be required to die to it. There is great gain in the wrestling of your heart. You see that's where you gain strength of Spirit -My Spirit not yours. That ugly thing in your heart causes you to move in repentance before me. It reminds you that YOU NEED ME. It causes you to realize that because I (Jesus Christ) live in you YOU have the power to overcome the "uglies" in your heart. Otherwise you will just hide it and pretend that you're something that you aren't. Or, worst, yet, think that you've done something amazing by "managing it." (I have realized that behavior management works great when we are young but as we get older it simply takes too much energy. The other choice is to unleash my "uglies" in thought, word, or action - consequently realizing that I may be one emotional upheaval away from being alone with 39 cats.) (He continues) - " I give you the choice to keep it, nurse it, pet it, or you can choose to overcome it by the power that resides in you. Out of the obedience in repentance you can let that thing live or die. I know it's there lol. You can't cover it up and think I won't see it (The image of lipstick on a pig comes to mind). It's your choice not mine. I have given you all that you need to live strong from within. It's your choice to live in your flesh or in my Spirit. To remove that choice from you would defy the very freedom I have given you. The freedom to choose: to hide, ignore or cover-up or to recognize, confess and overcome. The freedom to remain the same hurt, wounded, afraid little girl you've always been OR to confess your shortcomings. I desire to hear the "cry of your heart" - it moves me on your behalf. In confession, I will take those things from you and give you new strength, new freedom, and new power by MY Spirit not yours. Before long you'll come back to this ugly and you'll realize it's no longer there and you'll recognize MY PRESENCE in it's place. So, my little one, don't ask me to remove it - instead look at it, see it for what it is, see how it controls you, tell me all about it and how it hurts you and others. Then rely on MY POWER in you to overcome it. It may be a little at a time before you know your "ugly" will be replaced by my love. When you go there to inventory it in the future you'll see love instead. All I need is an invitation - I promise you won't regret it.

09/27/2024

The author of this post is Kerri Johnson

“Too often we give the impression that our salvation is completed in a single dramatic experience. We hear endless testimonies of people who were saved ‘x’ years ago. While John Wesley would rejoice in this, he would go on to ask, ‘But are you saved today, in this moment?’ He would want to know if the experience of the past was still alive in the present.”

Over here just getting saved every day…

09/07/2024

It’s PARADE time! Who’s ready? Sign up for the 70th Annual Gold Rush Days Festival Parade. Get your name and brand in front of thousands of spectators at this much anticipated annual event.

Click the link to join us!

https://goldrushdaysfestival.com/parade-application/

Proceeds benefit our Empty Stocking Fund later this year.

07/02/2024

Get outside! It feels amazing! There’s even a breeze blowing…what?!

01/03/2024

Taking a Facebook and messenger break for the month of January (maybe longer?!)

If you need me, you can email me at Kerrijohnsonministries.com

Happy New Year!

Welcome! Hey! Congrats! You came to the right place. Have you been trying to figure out how to get your heart healed? Are you tired of beating your head against the same ole wall? Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Wondering if you’re the only one? You’re not the only one. There is … Cont...

01/03/2024

Foundational Healing Retreat coming up on Friday evening, January 12th and all-day Saturday, January 13th at Forrest Hills Resort. Come for the day or stay on site. For more information go to

Welcome! Hey! Congrats! You came to the right place. Have you been trying to figure out how to get your heart healed? Are you tired of beating your head against the same ole wall? Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Wondering if you’re the only one? You’re not the only one. There is … Cont...