As Long As He Gives Me Breath!

My dad at my daughter's birthday.

My dad had a stroke on Mother’s day.  It seems weird to see that sentence typed on my screen. Eight words that are just letters from the alphabet, but those little letters arranged in that certain way have changed my family.  Right now there are so many questions and “what if” thoughts rolling around in my head.  There are simply not enough answers to solve all the problems that my mom and dad face right now.  At times all these circumstances can leave me feeling overwhelmed and inadequate.

Since Easter, my daughter had an emergency appendectomy.  My father-in-law had an emergency gallbladder removal and now my dad’s stroke.  We are all so thankful that they are with us today.  I cannot put into words my deep gratitude to God for His hand of protection.  But, I have been traveling on an emotional roller coaster and I am ready for the ride to be done.  When life hits hard like it has my family or when we find ourselves being attacked by the enemy, how do I react?

Easter 2011

During times like this, it becomes very clear what I cannot do.    I cannot keep bad things from happening.  I cannot control outcomes.  I even cannot kiss it and make it all better.  I feel so helpless and at times frustrated.  There is only one sure thing I can do or control through all of "life" stuff and that is my reaction.

My reaction is a choice.  Sure I have many feelings that flow through me during rough, discouraging, and hard times some of them not so good…hey I am only human.  But how I express those feelings is what I can control.  I choose to react the way God would have me to react.  Sometimes that can be genuinely hard to do, especially when you are really angry or hurt.  Gods just simply asks us to trust even in the middle of tough things.

Christmas program 2011

The last few days, I have been reminded about how much God loves me.  Not only does He love me, but He also gives me everything I need.  He provides for me spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.  He brings friends and family to carry my family and encourage us.  He is all and does more than we can imagine.  He holds us in the palm of His hand. 

Starting a new church in the months ahead is a lot of work.  All these seemingly bad things that have happened in the last month and half could really discourage John and I and distract us.  However, I have to know that no matter what we face God is on our side.  He has strengthened my resolve.  He has strengthened my determination.  And when I have done all (Eph. 6), I have decided …..I will stand firm.

Bay City last fall 2011

I was told during boot camp that we would face difficult times and attacks from Satan.  I really did not like hearing those words.  I cringed just at the thought of it.  In fact, I quickly buried those thoughts.  Of course, nobody wants to deal with stuff like that, I am no different.  I really like what George Wood posted on his facebook recently, “Paul does not say, "Everything that happens to us is good." Rather, the apostle declares, "God works good in all things." (Rom 8:28) (Man, I needed to hear that today!)

I read this verse about a week ago and I think God gave it to me for this very season of my life. I've been meaning to blog about this verse.  I just did not know this is how this blog would unfold.

Psalm 116

¹ I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
² Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!

I have prayed this as a prayer constantly since I read it. Little did I know how much I needed those few words written on paper so long ago and how they would impact my life right now.   I love the image of God in this passage.  I see Him as a dad bending down to help His daughter.   My Father not only loves me, He bends down to me, hears me, and takes care of me.  He is working all things together for my good and for my family’s good.  He has called me and I will answer that call.  

In bad times, good times, I will pray to my Jesus as long as He gives me breath!

GET JOY!

A Very Happy Mother's Day!

 This post is our special Mother's Day card for our grandmas!  

We hope you like it!

 A Haiku for You!

-By the 12 year old!

 

 We love you grandma.

Today is your special day.

Have a "Blossom" day!

 Now a Limerick too!

-By the 9 year old!

Grandma today is your day.

Hey, it is even in May.

We all love you

And the things that you do

So Hip Hip Horray!

Happy Mother's Day to two of the most wonderful Grandma's in the whole wide world!

We love you and we hope you have a wonderful day!

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God is Bringing People Together!

Have you ever played organized sports?  I did once.  I played girls softball in the 8th grade.  Hahahaha I laugh just thinking about myself playing that year.  You probably would have laughed at me as well.  Let's just say I am not a very sporty kinda girl.  I do much better with a paintbrush than a bat.  But can you imagine me being the only person on that team???  I was bad enough on my own.  Me.... being the only player would mean certain disaster. It just couldn't be done.  I need others to make up a team to play the game.   Actually, if were just me, my sorry one person team would just be disqualified and I wouldn't even be able to play. 


Well, church planting is the same.  I cannot build a new church all by myself.  The thought makes me actually shiver.  My hubby, as brilliant as he is, cannot do it by himself.  He would probably drop dead from a heart attack or have a nervous breakdown.  Ask yourself this question,  "Should one person start a new church all by themselves?"  You would probably come to the conclusion that the answer is NO!


Why? For two reasons...


#1.  It is God's job to build His Church! I love this verse...

Psalm 127

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
    the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
    guarding it with sentries will do no good.

If we try to do any building on our own it is in vain.  I do not want anything I do to be useless.  I want it to have value.   I want God to be glorified. 


Because of reason...
 #2.  It is not about me!


It is about the body of Christ reaching out to those who do not know Him.  I cannot reach everyone; because of so many reasons.  The main reason that it is simply impossible for me to connect with 14,000 lost people in our new home town.  We need a team working together to accomplish such a task if we are to reach others with the good news of Jesus. 

Philippians 2:2

New Living Translation (NLT)

² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

What is our mind and purpose.   

Here is our mission statement... 

It has been so cool to see God bring together people that would never have worked together on their own.  God is building a core group of people to come and work with us in Bay City.   He is bringing together the right people, with the right skills, with the right personal stories to come together and do something amazing in our new town.   Here are some of the most wonderful people already coming to work with us.

 Pastor Chris and Pastor Elaine Hooton are both ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God.  They already live in Bay City and are so excited about partnering with us in this new church plant.  Pastor Chris is the coffee guru.  So expect an amazing cup of coffee when you come and visit our church.    He has such a passion for children's ministry it just makes my heart feel happy.  Pastor Elaine is very creative and full of talents.  She is a very remarkable woman of God.  She knows her way around a computer and graphic design too...thank goodness.   God knew we needed that kind of wonderful help.  John and I are so pleased to have them as part of the Riverfront team. 



Angie has been working with us at our home church here in Gladwin for a few years now and she will be commuting to Bay City to help out.  She is so energetic and so about building God's kingdom.  She has the biggest, most kind heart I know! She spent a year in Australia at Hillsong's school.  There she learned a great deal about ministry and God's plan for His church.  She is just one of those kind of people that make you feel so good after being with them.   

Even my family is joining in on the fun.  My parents just sold their home in the Detroit area and will being moving north.   They have so many talents and abilities that I would be writing on and on and on and on.  I think you got the picture.   My parents have been Christ followers for so long.  It will be fun to be in the same city working together doing what God has called us all to do. 

There are more people that I am sure will be joining us that I know about and do not know yet.  I cannot wait to introduce you to them in the future.  But for now we have the makings of the most remarkable team.  

I can hardly wait for launch day!  I am so excited!

GET JOY!

First Photo Shoot for Fun!

I had the fun opportunity to take some prom pictures of a young man in our youth group.  I had a great time testing out my skills.   

Having too much fun with my camera!  Thanks Cody...hope you had a great time!

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You and Temptation!

When it comes to temptation….

You will either be the fool who, alone, inevitably gets caught in sin.

Or you will be the righteous person who humbles themselves, reaches out, and says “I cannot fight this on my own.” 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 , 12

⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

You do not have to be alone!
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A Mother's Day Tribute

Legacy!

By, Christina Johnson

Dearest Grandma, did you ever know the impact of the words you prayed?

How those words would affect my children’s life today?

The life you lived and the words you said,

The tears you cried as you knelt by your bed.

Grandma, never wavering in prayer for your sons;

You trusted in God’s promise until their hearts were won.

The day each boy gave his heart to the One who died on a tree

Is the day God heard your longing plea.

That in heaven you would someday see your sons walking down that golden street,

And in that moment, in your heart, your joy would be complete.

Train up a child, God’s promise in His Word you read,

His old heart would not turn from the precious blood shed.

Today, you rejoice with your sons at your side

Before the One, together you are a part of His beautiful bride.

Because of the life you lived and the words you said,

The tears you cried as you knelt by your bed.

But Grandma did you know that there is so much more blessing to come?

When you wept for your family, could you have known the entire sum?

For here waiting on earth is countless generations of those who know

About their beautiful Savior their lives they owe.

They are pastors, missionaries, workers of Christ’s great call,

To rescue those perishing from the fall.

Even I, a very young heart, know His name,

And someday I will proclaim Christ's great fame.

And so will go on the story for generations to come,

Until this earth we all leave from.

To that Book of Life more names will be written

To Jesus their hearts forever will be smitten.

Because of the life you lived and the words you said,

The tears you cried as you knelt by your bed.

Thank you great, great grandma for what you have done;

For my life is forever changed because of God’s Son.

When I am old, may the same be said of me,

Generations to know Christ, a wonderful legacy;

Because of the life I lived and the words I said,

The tears I cried as I knelt by my bed.

Thank you Grandma!

GET JOY!

I wrote this from the perspective of my daughters.  This is written in honor of my mom, who inspired the words and her beautiful legacy that she passed on to us.   The picture at the top is my praying Great Grandma Clara,and her sons.  My grandpa is in the middle, the youngest.  We have countless letters from the 1930's to my grandpa from his mom.  In those letters my great grandma tells my grandfather about the love of Christ for him.  We cherish those old letters.  Sadly, she passed away before my mom or I could meet her.  But someday....we will!

I Hate Waiting!

One of my all time favorite movies is the Princess Bride.  There is a scene that keeps coming to my mind this morning. 

Inigo Montoya: I donna suppose you could speed things up?
Man in Black: If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do.
Inigo Montoya: I could do that. I have some rope up here, but I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in Black: That does put a damper on our relationship.
Inigo Montoya: But, I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.
Man in Black: That's VERY comforting, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.
Inigo Montoya: I hate waiting.


Hahahaha I just love this funny scene between those two characters.  What a casual conversation between a guy arduously climbing the cliffs of insanity and a guy waiting to kill him?!  Inigo Montoya just had to "wait" to do his job and that was to take care of the man in black once he reached the top.

There is this unexpected "waiting" in church planting.  Now I am not waiting around ready to enter a sword fight with the man in black....but I am hating the "waiting".  God has a job for us to do in Bay City and that is to reach those who have never heard His name.  He wants us to go and be His arms stretched out to those in need.

 But, it is so hard to do that and hour away.  

I am so excited about the vision God has placed in our hearts.   I am so excited about the ideas and dreams He has given us to do in our new town.  I feel like a kid waiting to open their gifts at Christmas.  Honestly, I want to be moved over there now.  I want to be busy doing what God has called us to do.

But, we have to sell our house. 

We have plans.  We have goals.  We have dates and dead lines.  We have a team that is growing.  We have people already there wanting an Assembly of God church in our new city.

But, we can't leave yet .....we have things to finish here first.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting....it can be frustrating!  I hate waiting!

Waiting is a part of life!

Ugh!

 BUT, learning to wait on the Lord is a virtue a virtue that is very hard lesson for me to learn. In some ways, waiting is like waiting for my spring flowers to bloom.  It seems like forever for those sweet little flowers to peek their petals out from their green buds.  But when they do it is perfect, beautiful and so fragrant. 

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62:5

Waiting is an act of OBEDIENCE!

When I wait on Him, I show Him that I am willing to allow Him to move in His perfect timing.  If I try to make things "move faster"  then I am doing what He has called me to do in my own efforts.  That is not God building His Church that is me building mine.  Ouch!  There is obedience even in the waiting.  Huh... I think I will chew on that for awhile.

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

Waiting is an act of TRUST!
When I wait on God, I learn to trust Him more.   There are something's I cannot make happen, no matter how hard I try.  I cannot make someone buy my house.  I have to trust in God's call for us to move to Bay City.  If he has asked us to move, He will provide the buyer at the right time.  I have to trust Him for that!  No options...just trust! 

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently

Romans 8:25

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4

When I choose to wait, God will build His church in His perfect timing.  Then and only then will this new church in Bay City be a perfect, beautiful and fragrant offering to the Lord.  Today, I will choose to wait.  Not because I like it, He never said I had to like it;  but as and act of obedience and trust.  I will wait bravely, courageously, patiently, and confidently before the Lord. Then I will watch His promises be fulfilled and see something amazing blossom.

 While I wait, I will...

GET JOY!

The pictures of the flowers are from around my house this morning!  Trillium, Lilly of the Valley, Columbine and my Lilacs!

A Tween Party!

My 12 year old daughter wanted to have a duct tape themed birthday party!   Yikes!  How does one do that???  If you have been following my blog you may have noticed that our lives have been a little busy.  So, here is my interpretation of that theme.  You will notice her favorite color everywhere in the party too. 

I am also crazy and I let her have an all-nighter.  I know...I know...crazy right?!   We had 7 tweens in our home...this was going to be quite the adventure or the worst idea of my life. 

On the snack menu, cupcakes with duct tape flags, chips, mini homemade pizza squares, chocolate covered pretzels,  marshmallows dipped in chocolate, orange candy slices and lots of lemonade.  (One smart thing I did was that I got each girl an orange water bottle and wrote their name on it. If it tipped over...no spillage and no sharing of germs or wondering who's drink was whose.) 

I wanted to incorporate duct tape somewhere...here are some flags I made with all of her fun tape. 

I spent the week thinking about what the girls would want to do at the party.  I came up with a few ideas.  There is a playground very close to our house so we walked over and took some very fun photos.  The girls really got into coming up with some fun shots.   They were pretty fun to hang out with and they didn't even mind mom hanging out with them. 

One of my favorite shots!

I didn't want to hear "I'm bored" all night.  So, I came up with something brilliant.... I filled a box with slips of paper with things to do on them.  I came up with almost thirty different things.  I had a bucket with all the things they needed to accomplish each task.  The rules were...
1.  They could only pull one slip out at a time.
2.  They all had to agree to pull out a slip.
3.  The birthday girl got to pick out the slip and read it.
4.  If they decided to pull out the slip they had to complete the task.
(Oh and since I came up with them, they were all "mom approved"!  Brilliant isn't it?! LOL)


Here are the ideas!
1. Do sparklers
2. Paint nails
3. Talk like a pirate for the next 20 min
4. Make balloon bracelets
5. Make up a skit and preform it
6. Tell silly ridiculous scary stories
7. Paint a frame to take home
8. Have a biggest bubble blowing contest.
9. Have a burping contest
10. Make duct tape bracelets
11. Say "Bazinga" after every sentence for the next 10 min.
12.  Put glow in the dark tattoos on.
13.  Play a game...taboo, apples to apples or balderdash.
14.  Play truth or dare (but only do things mom would approve of)
15.  Write out facts about each other on paper, don't write their name on it,  mix them up, try to guess which fact belongs to each person.
16.  Tell and embarrassing funny story.
17.  Watch a movie.
18.  Take a zillion funny pictures.
19.  Start a story.  Each person tells one sentence at a time and continue until the birthday girl says, "The End"!
20.  Everybody lay on the floor.  Close your eyes, make the strangest noises you can and nobody laugh!
21.  Play the game concentration.  
22.  Spray the sour candy in your mouth and say a tongue twister really fast.
23.  Do something weird you know how to do like wiggle your ears, bend your fingers back...etc.
24.  Put stickers all over your faces.
25.  Make the funniest faces you can and nobody laugh.
26.  Play the Wii
27.  Sing five silly songs in a weird accent.
28.  Do everybody's hair in a weird hairstyle!


 They only made it through half of these and some they did the next morning.  It was a lot of fun and I never heard..."We're Bored!"


It was fun going outside and doing sparklers!  A side note...I love, love, love my camera!

These are the fun frames they painted and I put a fun picture we took at her party in them.  We used duct tape here too. These were the party favors.

I put up the twinkle lights to make my living room even more fun. 

The girls didn't make it all night.  Once a movie went on they got sleepy.  I think they were all asleep by 3am. 


For breakfast we had french toast bake, sausage, string cheese and bananas.  So Good that I wanted to share the recipe for the french toast!

Baked French Toast~allrecipe

Ingredients:
1 loaf texas toast cut or broken into bite size pieces (you can really use any kind of bread, I used french bread)
8 eggs
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup half and half cream (if you don't have you can just do milk, I used buttermilk)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Arrange the slices in bottom of buttered 9x13 pan. Beat eggs, milk cream, vanillla and cinnamon. Pour over bread slices, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Sauce:

3/4 cup butter
1/13 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup

The next morning in a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar and corn syrup, heat until bubbling. Pour over bread and egg mixture

Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees uncovered I cooked it for about 40 min.  It will puff up and set.


This tween party was a big success!  All the girls had a lot of fun, there was no fighting, no crying and no getting in trouble!  I even got a little sleep...Whoo HOO!  However, my house is trashed; but it is worth it!

Happy Birthday to my 12 year old!

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Oh To Be Twelve!

Birthday dinner with her grandparents and Aunt Jenni

I can hardly believe my daughter is 12 today!  I watched "The Fiddler On The Roof" yesterday and I am beginning to understand that "Sunrise, Sunset" song a little bit better, such phrases like...

Is this the little girl I carried,
When did she get to be a beauty,
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laiden with happiness and tears.

I love what Tevye asks in the song.  It so clearly speaks to what my heart feels.  I will join with him in song....

What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?

Okay, I will stop being so melodramatic now; but, hey I am a mama of children who won't stop growing up no matter how much I beg, plead, and make them promise to stop.  

Skipping school for some birthday smoothies!

I love my girl!  She is turning into such a beautiful young lady.  She has the best personality.  She is witty, spunky, creative, beautiful, out going, even tempered, nothing shakes her, unique, quirky, a leader, and just plain fun.  I love that she constantly is making things out of duck tape, boxes, and just about any scrap she can get her hands on.  I love that she hangs around talking to her math teacher about math.  I don't get how a kid can love math so much?!  I love that she tallies everything...she is awesomely weird like that.  I love that she wanted a bible on her Kindle and wants to read the whole thing.  I love that she doesn't care what people think about her.  I love how she over exaggerates a bazillion times.  I love that she never...never...never wears matching socks.  I love everything about her. I love that she is mine. I love that she is more importantly the Lords.  

Excited about her Kindle...thanks Grandpa M!

What a cutie!

Her cute 31 organizer, duct tape and glow in the dark nail polish.

More crazy socks she can mix-n-match!

Today, we celebrate her life.  I made her an over easy egg for breakfast!  We took her and her BFF out for lunch and a bunch of McD's workers sang happy birthday.  Her friends at school decorated her locker.  I cooked for her a favorite meal...BBQ ribs, rutabaga fries, green beans, and an ice cream brownie sundae.  She opened presents and cards,.  She got her special "Happy Birthday" phone calls too.  And we are also having a big all nighter party this weekend with her dear friends (pray for me like you have never prayed before! I may be crazy or I will be soon). We pretty much made it all about her.....because she deserves it!  She is pretty cool!

Our precious 12 year old, WE LOVE YOU!

GET JOY!