And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 11:19 

Well it’s February and since…

Happy New Year!  I hope the year is off to a good start for you and that even at this early stage of 2024, you can attest to the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness.  Every new year is an opportunity to…

He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through.  And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd…

Well it’s been quite a year for many of us!  Even though it’s October, I don’t think it’s too early to consider the implications of 2023 ending and 2024 beginning.  I’ll admit, I’m a pretty reflective and contemplative guy when…

blind spot:  an area where a person's view is obstructed.  

I believe; help my unbelief!  Mark 9:24

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my need for ongoing self-examination before the Lord.  It’s probably the part of my faith I…

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.  Nahum 1:7

Alright, we’re about half-way through 2023 and I feel like it’s time for a bit of a spiritual gut-check…

I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

As I sit down to type this month’s blog (and accompanying content for the AS BOLD AS LIONS PODCAST), my heart is heavy…

As I sit down to type this month’s blog (and the accompanying content for my podcast episode), I’m pondering a subject I’ve never really discussed in much detail — to my knowledge.  Even as I think about this topic, I…

I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed…

As I began this year, I wanted to take a more direct approach to my Bible reading in a way I haven’t done in previous years.  Many of you may know the impact the books of wisdom have had on…

Is this one for the people? 
Is this one for the Lord? 
Or do I simply serenade 
For things I must afford? 

From the DC Talk song “What If I Stumble?” 

With the opportunity to play and perform my own…

“You will not need to fight in this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.  Tomorrow go out…

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  And when all the people saw it, they fell…

If you are like me, the events over the past couple years and even the last few months have been nothing short of monumental.  It has been a roller coaster in many ways; going from one thing to the next…

***Please note:  As previously mentioned, the blog of the week is moving to a monthly format.  These monthly blogs and wice weekly devotionals will still go out if you are on my mailing list (sign up here:  https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions). Additionally,…

Away in a manger 
No crib for a bed, 
The little Lord Jesus 
Laid down his sweet head. 
The stars in the sky 
Looked down where he lay, 
The little Lord Jesus 
Asleep in the hay 

The cattle are lowing …

Hark! The herald angels sing, 
“Glory to the newborn King! 
Peace on earth and mercy mild, 
God and sinners reconciled.” 
Joyful, all ye nations rise, 
Join the triumph of the skies, 
With th’angelic host proclaim: 
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.” …

(Every year in October, I take some blogs from over the past few years that have resonated perhaps more deeply and repost them as the blog of the week.  Praying that this content will be a blessing to you --…

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of…

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief…

But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.  And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.  Acts 6:10,15 

Often the…

Psalm 91 

1 
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 
2 
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, 
    my God, in whom I trust.” 
3 …

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of…

Wrapping up a series on how to share and defend the Gospel, I wanted to take a week just to focus on some of the falsehoods that exist as we encounter our world.  Whenever the truth of Scripture is watered…

a·pol·o·get·ics (noun):  reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine. 

This term apologetics always used to confuse me a little.  It sounds like the word “apology” and I once thought, “Why do I want…