Derek Charles Johnson

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Ephesians 6:13

We’re entering the warmest days of the year here in the US…

This month’s blog comes with a request from me to you:  will you join me on a journey for the next few weeks?  As you may know by now, the blog is a monthly message that goes out the…

Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.…

"If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for.”  Charles Spurgeon 

For me, one of the hardest parts of the…

As I go through this life, I am painfully aware of how often my outlook has a singular purpose and angle:  I am most often looking out for my own good.  From the moment I get up to the…

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  Luke 5:10

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out…

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  Psalm 139:23,24

We’re nearing the end of another year…

As I sit down to type this blog (and the accompanying script for the AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast), I am aware that this has been a busy and noisy fall.  I am speaking in terms of “newsworthy” items.  Headlines…

In recent days and weeks, I’ve been hearing this word “urgent” as it relates to both the readiness of our hearts and the preparedness for those around us as we consider faith in Jesus Christ.  I have no idea when…

Well it’s been quite a break here on the AS BOLD AS LIONS front!  For those new to this ministry (blogs, devotionals, and podcasts), I have been pretty much going nonstop since 2017 with some sort of content.  That year…

Hello May and hello spring!  I hope as you either read this blog or listen to the accompanying podcast which uses this same material, you are blessed.  Whew, 2025 is nearly 1/2 over!  Every year runs at this pace.  I’m…

OK, full disclosure time.  My church this year is preaching through the Gospel of John.  In my own personal study (before the church series started), I determined I was going to start reading John in 2025.  So that means John…

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” John 4:29

For those in Christ, there was a moment in time in which the call of Jesus was too much to resist…

For this month’s blog, I considered some of the content that I am already going through in my own personal study this year.  Not everyday, but on most days I am trying to look at a small portion from the…

As this goes out, it is January 1st, 2025 so let me be one of the first to wish you a Happy New Year!  The excitement and expectation that always surrounds a new year is never lost on me.  I…

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Ephesians 6:13

With it being December and the last blog of the year, I…

Moses My servant is dead.  Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.  Joshua 1:2

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong…

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:30,31

I am always grateful for the…

Seek the Lord while He may be found;
    call upon Him while He is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him,…

Well it has been quite the summer!  As I sit down to type this month’s blog, I realize that it doesn’t seem like that long ago my family and I were making summer plans:  getting ready for our oldest to…

This month’s blog comes with an apology in advance!  I’m not always one who likes or prefers sports metaphors when it comes to explaining certain concepts (especially Biblical things).  Reason being, there are times when something that makes sense to…

As we move into the month of June it’s apparent that we are already nearing the 1/2 way point of this year.  It’s mind-boggling how fast time flies and how much happens in a few short months.  2024 has been…

I’ve been able to cover some various Old Testament accounts lately on the blog and podcast.  I have felt like the Lord keeps giving insights into those stories and since I’m reading through the Old Testament this year, much of…

Welcome to April!  It’s crazy how fast 2024 is going.  I feel like I just processed Christmas and New Year’s a few short weeks ago.  Now Easter has come and gone and spring is in full swing (or hopefully close!)…