DAILY DEVOTIONS
​"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" 
​By Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson

July 7

"After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her. - Mark 16:9-11 (NLT) 

 Have you ever told someone wonderful news and they refused to believe you? It can be very hurtful. Yet Mary Magdalene did not stop spreading the Good News of Jesus' resurrection even when others didn't believe her. She persevered in spite of initial rejection by Peter and the apostles, ridicule from friends, and threats of governing officials. Yet her courage to persevere telling the truth in the face of the threats and slander of the authorities eventually earned her a revered place in the early Christian church. She holds a unique position in history today as not only the first person to see the risen Christ, but as the first Evangelist. 

 While it is clear historically there were many women among Jesus' disciples, it is also clear Jesus didn't treat women as others in his culture but with dignity, as people of worth. Mary, from the town of Magdala, was a wealthy independent woman and early disciple of Jesus who was energetic, generous, and caring. She not only traveled with a group of other women disciples supporting Jesus and his apostles but contributed financially to the needs of their ministry along with the rest of these faithful women. (Lk.8:1-3) Mary was one of the few disciples remaining present at the cross after all male apostles but John had fled in terror. She was preparing to anoint Jesus' body on Sunday morning when she discovered the empty tomb and was first to see the risen Christ.

  Mary Magdalene is an inspiring example of courageous living. After her affliction was miraculously healed by Jesus, she left all to follow him. In the gospels Mary acts out of appreciation for the freedom Christ gave her. That freedom allowed her to stand under Christ's cross when most of the male disciple were hiding in fear. After Jesus' death, she intended to lovingly prepare his body for burial, in spite of the risks. She never expected a bodily resurrection but was overjoyed to see it. Mary was more eager to believe and obey Jesus' instructions to tell others than to understand details. Because Mary's faith was so courageous, Jesus honored her by appearing to her first and entrusting her with the Good News of his victory over death. She remains an inspiration for all today!

Prayer: God, Help me be courageous like Mary Magdalene. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: True courage can transform our fears to faith!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)

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About the Author

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)
​
She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H. 
​
Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc. This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.
​

Credentials

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson,
​received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies from Andover Newton in Newton, Massachusetts.

​Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.

​She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Nationally Board Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC) and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).

Publications

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight published books including:

Activating The Power of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach

Brief Devotions for Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal (Vol.1-4)

Flying Free: Transforming Grief
and Loss into Renewal

Following The Angel Trail: In the Steps of Jesus
Love In Action: The Healing Heritage of the Counseling Ministry of the Church

 Visions Of Hope: Voices of Americana
Healing Streams: Journeys of Healing

She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal Journeys and in the
​Keene Sentinel. 

Commentary

"Love never ends"
(1 Corinthians 13:8, NRSV) 
​
 "I always considered my
ministry as a shared ministry.
Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did.
I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson was my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond. Community United Methodist Church"
from
​Pastor Arnie Johnson 
(Retired UMC LLP)

"The words shared by the late Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, offer us inspiration and hope still today.
We are blessed by her wisdom in sharing and reflecting upon the Word of God."
from
Pastor Sharon Sargent