Who, me?

I love to read Judges 6.  Here we are introduced to Gideon, the great military leader who eventually defeats the huge Midianite army with just a few hundred men, some clay jars, trumpets and torches.

Rewind

The Israelites had been oppressed by the nation of Midian for years.  Food was scarce and people were hungry.  Everything the Israelites planted was quickly destroyed.  Then the angel of the Lord came to Gideon.  He greeted him by saying, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

Irony

Gideon was not wielding his sword.  He was not shielded head to toe in fine armor.  Gideon was at the wine press, threshing wheat.  What does a wine press have to do with threshing wheat?  Nothing! Gideon was hiding from the Midianites.  Gideon was trying to avoid their notice and protect his harvest.  There was nothing wrong with what he was doing.  It seems like a reasonable ploy; not a brave ploy, but reasonable.

It is then that the angel said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."  I imagine when the angel called him "mighty warrior" his eyes rolled in their sockets and his jaw thrust forward.  I imagine he grumbled in irritation.  He may have felt that the angel was mocking his cowardice.  Hiding out is not a mark of courage.  Gideon ignored the title given to him and turned the conversation back to God's supposed failure in order to mitigate his own.  "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?"  (The answer is not given here but earlier verses tell us that Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord and needed a wake up call.)

The angel spoke the words of the Lord, turning the spotlight back to Gideon.  "Go in the strength you have, and save Israel out of Midian's hand.  Am I not sending you?"

Gideon may have thought, "You have GOT to be kidding me!  You have the wrong guy!"  Gideon saw what was immediately visible.  The Midianites were a numerous people.  The Midianites had oppressed the Israelites for years.  Gideon was a FARMER.  And not only that, he was a FEARFUL FARMER.  Mighty warrior?  Deliverer of Israel?  Not now, not today, not ever.

Fast Forward

Gideon + three hundred men + clay jars + trumpets + torches + God = Judges 8:28  "Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again.

Imagine

The angel of the Lord appears to the thirty year old cashier.  "The Lord is with you, university professor."
The angel of the Lord appears to the stay at home mom.  "The Lord is with you, CEO."
The angel of the Lord appears to the high school student.  "The Lord is with you, world changer."

These hypothetical people are doing good and honorable work.  They may be right where God has placed them for that time.   You might be right where God has placed you for this time.  But it only takes a moment for your trajectory to change.  God sees you as you truly are, right now; and because God is not confined by time, He sees you as you will be.  He can call that out in you whenever he pleases.  He is preparing you for it.  He might not always choose to tell you what your future holds, but He knows.  And when He does call to you, when He speaks to you and clearly defines you, you can be sure that His words are true, and you are capable, even if you want to roll your eyes, thrust out your jaw and groan in skepticism.

 

This day was brought to you by the letter "G"

On an otherwise long boring Wednesday we decided to have "G" day.  We ate Golden Grahams for breakfast, wore Green and Gray then headed off to Gymnastics.  For lunch we munched Green Grapes.  Dinner was Grilled cheese and Guacamole.  We played with Glitter Glue and made stained Glass out of crayon shavings.  After dinner we had Granola tasting while we watched the Great Mouse Detective.  (The back up choice was the Grinch.) It was a Great day!

Snow play

 I just love how my husband loves his boys!  These were taken at Cub Scout Polar Camp.  Snow play is Derek's favorite activity.  Sometimes I catch him outside late at night after the kids are all sleeping creating large snow forts or sledding hill jumps for the kids to discover the next day.  He is so eager for the blizzard they say is on the way.

Faster and slower

Usually I forget about giving something up for Lent until Ash Wednesday has passed and anything I would have given up, I have already done or eaten.  This year someone brought it up before the beginning of Lent and I had time to consider my options.  Should I give up something for Lent this year?  Why would I want to do such a thing? 

               I could give up something for Lent so I could have something to brag about.  I could gather with my friends and we could try to impress one another with our sacrifices.  “I gave up ice cream.”  “Well I gave up chocolate.”  “But I gave up ice cream AND chocolate.”  “I’ll take your ice cream and your chocolate!  I gave up dieting!” 

                I could give up something for Lent as a kind of trial repentance.  We could join each other for coffee and admire our glittering crowns of piety.  If, after Easter, we just could not live without our sin, we could go back to it.  After all, we tried.  “I have given up speeding for Lent.  I will willingly get stuck behind the snowplow so I will not be tempted beyond what I can bear.”  “I’m giving up gossip.  Just so you all are aware I will not be talking about your weight, your marital woes or your horrible parenting.  You are so welcome.”  “I’m giving up porn.”  Yikes. 

I could give up something for Lent so I have something to complain about.  My friends and I could thumb text after text detailing our great misery.  “I don’t know how I will get through the day without the television.  Watching movies on my phone just isn’t the same!”  “I gave up wearing my seat belt and I am consumed by fear every time I leave the house.  If that’s not suffering I don’t know what is!”  “I gave up showers and I am so lonely; no one wants to be near me.”

                I could give up something for Lent and, in a small way, share in the suffering of Jesus Christ.  He gave up everything to come to this earth, suffer and die.  He gave up heaven for homelessness; glory for humility; a perfect body for pain.  He gave up life so I could have life abundantly.  (John 10:10)  Should I choose to fast I will not brag, for Jesus was a humble man.  I will not attempt a trial repentance unless I am looking for trial forgiveness.  I will not complain because Jesus did not complain.  The Bible says Jesus went to the cross, knowing full well what it would cost Him, in anticipation of the JOY set before Him; eternal life with His beloved people and glorification in the Kingdom of God.  (Hebrews 12:2)  

Snatched

Philippians 3:12  Not that I have already obtained all this [to share in Christ's suffering, become like him in death and attain resurrection from the dead], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to TAKE HOLD of that for which Christ Jesus TOOK HOLD of me.

This verse is one of my favorites.  I love the image of Christ Jesus taking hold of me.  I see myself on the edge of a cliff, looking down at the jagged rocks below.  It is dark down there, the roiling waves and shifting shadows are ominous yet grossly alluring.  The urge is to jump, to leap, to stumble and so fall...but then He calls me, calls me by name.  "Cassie, you are mine."  My head turns toward Him and He reaches out and grabs me, not by my hand, where the strength of His grip is dependent upon the strength of mine, but around the waist, protecting me from my own weakness.

He did not reach blindly, on that day, but carefully took aim.  We are called to be fishermen, casting our net out over our neighborhoods or workplaces.  We choose where to cast, but we do not choose who is caught.  Jesus is not a fisherman.  His hook is not baited, his net is not cast for just anyone who may pass by; the target, an accidental convergence of time and place.  No, when He reached out for me, it was me He wanted to take hold of.  Me, as one who He has known from before my birth; me, as one whose future is His to form.  He took careful aim and He did not miss.  As He said to Israel in Isaiah 43:1, He also says to me , "I have called you by name, and you are mine."

The burning, the stirring, the eagerness I feel to take hold of His purpose for me is a response to this image.  I am chosen, I am deeply loved, I am not an accident.  I am far from perfect, but His plan is perfect.  His purpose for my today is unfolding.  I hear the faint thrumming of His purpose for my tomorrow.  Looking beyond, I see nothing but the smoke behind which his purposes are hiding, but I press on, because once upon a time, He TOOK HOLD of me.

Snatched.

Christmastime 2010

Here are some shots from Christmas this year and a video of the boys and Allie singing at our church's Christmas Eve service.

We managed to fill the Christmas season with some cookie baking with Grandma Nancy, Christmas eve at our house including some afternoon outside snow fun with Uncle Kurt and David, Christmas day at the Dierdorf's and a day with Grandma/Grandpa Johnson that Sunday.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and are looking forward to a great new year in 2011.

The Johnson's

Holidazzle 2010

So it's been a while, we've been busy!

Here is a video of Tyler and Danny in their 1st ever parade, the Mpls Holidazzle! Target sponsors so i had the opportunity to get them spots in the 1st parade of the year. they had fun even though it was a cold night, and they can't wait to do it next year!

enjoy!