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!

The Johnson "nature preserve" 2010

Yes, 2010 seems to be the year for nature to join us in our yard!

A nest appeared under our deck, but this year the eggs hatched fully into 3 baby Robins! We missed their first flight and they are no longer there, but enjoy the photos and video below.

Then we discovered some baby bunnies being kept under our new swingset! There were at least

6 but since we found them, the mom has moved them elsewhere.

What will be next? Turkeys have been spotted just a few miles away...

Easter

The family had a great time celebrating the Resurrection of Christ our Lord. Danny always has lots of God/Jesus questions and I delight in him asking them. We had both sides of relatives at our house. Our OUTDOOR egg hunt was marvelous. Finally a warm weather Easter!
Luke got his first Easter basket and enjoyed munching on his Twins shirt. Allie had so much fun she snuck off downstairs during dinner and fell asleep in the Exersaucer. I don't know if she got in and was stuck so she decided to sleep or just found a comfy place to snooze. I don't know how comfy it was to kneel on the ridges in the bottom of the saucer. The Easter bunny forgot that grownups don't get Easter baskets and got me one too. Dark chocolate truffles win every time. I don't know how many more years we have where Tyler still embraces the mysteries of Santa, the Easter bunny, the Tooth Fairy etc. but this year he suspended his skepticism and got into the show. We don't ever want to forget the reason for this celebration though!

Getting Bigger (hates the flash!)

Johnson Golf Traditions

The sport of golf hits the next generation of Johnsons. For Danny's birthday he recieved a pass to Triple Play. He and Tyler played countless rounds of minigolf on the nearly empty course. Thanks to Uncle David for showing us the ropes!

Dinos

We had a great time digging for bones and playing with dinosaurs at the new exhibit at the Children's Museum. Allie was a little frightened by the big animatronic dinos but she was so brave, walking into the room with her hands clapped over her eyes, saying, "I'm covering mine eyes, I'm covering mine eyes." I'm glad she didn't run into anything.

Daddy-daughter Valentines dance was a huge hit with Allie. They joined friends Byron and Sarah for a ball fit for a princess. They danced to old favorites, made cookies and wore butterfly wings (just Allie on this part, not Derek.) They may have to make this a yearly tradition!

Strange things are happening...

Only two weeks late...Tyler is 6!

Our Tyler is excited to be 6. He had a great birthday party with his (13!) school and church friends. We had a Hot Wheels themed party and had some track stretched across the room. It was a huge hit with boys and girls alike. The only minor hang up this day was the battle scars, (scraped cheek and fat lip) sustained in a skipping with hands in the pockets incident in the parking garage of Daddy's work the day before. He is excited to (hopefully) lose some teeth this year. Mommy hopes the first one to go is the front one that is graying after getting knocked back in the afore mentioned incident. He loves Transformers, HotWheels and all things building. He is eagerly planning and drawing up plans for our new swing set to be built when the snow melts. He is a math whiz much to mommy and the papa's delight. A Casanova with the females in the kindergarten class, they fight over who gets to sit next to him on the bus. He is a super duper big brother to Danny, Allie and Luke and is shyly starting to demonstrate his reading skills for their benefit. His athletic pursuits include basketball, tee ball, fort making and running around the house. We love everything about you, Tyler! Happy Birthday.

Aflame

2-30-39

Because I am STILL behind in my blogging I want to share with you our more recent birthdays. Sweet Allie turned 2 in November. She is the perfect sister for this family of boys. She is our happy little extrovert. She warms up to people, familiar and not in a heartbeat. (Even quicker if you offer her candy or show her your doggie. YIKES!) She loves to sing (Silent Night at the top of her lungs) and dance. Almost every day she requests a dress to wear or a ratty old Thomas the Train shirt passed down from her brothers. She loves Dora and Diego and always wants to play "There's an animal in twubble. Twick, we have to save him!" We are all charmed just watching her be herself.

I turned 30. I don't know how this happened. Just yesterday I was 24 and expecting my first child. Crazy. For this next decade I hope for a little more sleep, fewer diaper changes (of children, not myself!) and more pages scrapped! 20's were great and I expect nothing less of my 30's

Derek turned 39. We have entered a rare moment when we share a decade. We discovered that 39 candles on a cake do not set off our smoke alarm. Better luck next year. Derek is the best father I could ask for for my children. I'm glad I didn't let him get away. I had an inkling when we were dating but he has greatly surpassed my expectations. He is a remarkable husband, also. When friends complain about this or that I can only smile as secret smile and think fondly of my awesome man. (Okay, so sometimes I complain a little bit but that is more because of my shortcomings than his.) I can't wait until next year. Get ready for a big bash!

Tyler turned 6 today. You can view his pictures on this blog in April. :-)

Lay one on me!

We dedicate him to the Lord

On Sunday, January 24 we dedicated our youngest son, Luke William to God. We chose this verse for him. "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be a man of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 We desire for Luke and for all of our children to know the truth of God deep in their hearts and not be persuaded by the world's views. We pray that as they grow up and out, forming their own friendships, that they will be blessings to their friends and not let their faith be tainted. This takes great courage.

Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! We had a good holiday. It seemed like it lasted four days as we celebrated with both families and took some time for our own group of 6. I enjoyed having Derek home for most of the two weeks either working from home or totally off. The Christmas blizzard made the whole world slow down. Everything was quiet and white. Getting around wasn't as difficult as predicted but we did use it as an excuse to sleep over at my folks' house. We got some good new toys to last us through these next three frigid months. I still have a little chocolate left from my stocking to get me through this week. I'll raid the kids' stashes next week. :-)

BBall

We are excited to begin a second season of basketball this week. Tyler really showed some good improvement this year. He isn't the most aggressive player, no surprise there but he has GREAT hustle! Can't wait for his next game!