I am one hot mess.  A real nut job. I say things that I don’t realize are inappropriate until the words have exited through my lips. I hug people to the point of crushing their lungs. I drink water in such a way that leaves more on my shirt than in my mouth.  And I drive like a maniac because I’m usually trying to eat breakfast and finish my makeup at the same time.  I make no excuses, but my life sometimes looks more like a snow globe that’s been tossed around than a nice statue on the mantle.

So one day, while cutting mutilating an avocado, God confirmed in me—Johnna, you ARE a nut.  {I know this illustration is not 100% accurate because the hard thing inside an avocado is actually a seed. But for illustration purposes, please go with me. It looks an awful lot like a nut.} I started thinking about how this nut-seed is hard and useless once it’s removed from the rest of the fruit.  It gets thrown in the trash with all the 92 pieces of avocado skin that break off in centimeter sections, and the part that everyone wants is the fruity, fleshy part.  That’s the part that is desirable for making God’s heavenly masterpiece known as guacamole.

And God spoke to my spirit, saying…”You are like this seed, and I am like the rest of the avocado. That’s why I tell you to abide in me.  Outside of me, you are nothing. Not capable of accomplishing anything on your own, and serving no purpose.  But when you are encased in me— embedded deeply into my flesh—I will protect you.  I will give you a purpose. I will cover you in all that I am: righteousness, truth, faith, peace, grace, and life.  I will be what people see when they look at you. I will be what they desire when they engage in conversation and do life with you. Don’t worry about whether or not you have what it takes—you don’t.  But I will give you what you need for life and godliness today. Just take shelter, take refuge.  IN ME.


All that from a ripe avocado. Proof that God will use anything to get his message through to his people.  So if I’m loving my husband, or making parenting decisions…if I’m leading a Bible study, or having a conversation with a friend…if I’m cooking dinner or reading a book…if I’m posting on social media or commenting on someone's picture….My brain wants to scream, “LOOK AT ME! LOOK WHAT I DID!”  And then I remember—I’m just a nut-seed. Living inside something greater than myself.  Dwelling in something more desirable and more valuable than anything I can offer. And all that I do is for nothing if it’s not done inside the protection and the righteousness of my Savior.  IN Him. And FOR Him.